There you have it. We are no longer on the Negroni Month – which couldn’t have made this article any more timely. It’s funny that last year it was just a week. Now it’s a whole month. Next year we’ll have the Negroni semester, I’m sure. It will run from August until New Year’s Eve. And it’ll be great, as well as super practical, because everything will already be red, so there won’t be any need to change the palette for Christmas.
Negroni is an interesting drink. I saw a post the other day that gave some funny definitions of the cocktail. Among them, “the easiest way to make normal people hate cocktails”; “diabetes mixed with bitterness” and my absolute favorite “like a boulevardier, but worse”. The truth is that Negroni is the worst and most addictive drink there is. And certainly the one that evokes the most passion among its enthusiasts.
It is only natural, then, that it has branched out into several variations throughout its history. The best known of these is, allegedly, the Boulevardier, which swaps gin for whiskey. Something that, let’s face it, should have been done from day one. But there are countless others. Sbagliato, Negroni Bianco, Last Man Standing, Drunk Uncle, South By Southwest and Valentino, to name a few.
The Old Pal is one of them. Its creation is attributed to Harry MacElhone of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1922. It was the bartender’s homage to William “Sparrow” Robertson, a journalist and editor of the New York Herald in Paris. His writing style has been described by others as “devoid of syntax and even more of elementary grammar”. However, regardless of his literary merit, Robertson was a celebrity, an alcohol enthusiast, and a great friend of Harry’s. Hence the “Old Pal”.
The original Old Pal recipe calls for equal parts Campari, rye whiskey, and dry vermouth. This Dog, however, might prefer a more modern ratio that puts the whiskey front and center. Two parts of the American spirit to one part of each of the other parts. Note, however, that this is based on personal taste and depends largely on the specific ingredients used. A rye with more rye in its mashbill might have a lower ratio. The tip is to experiment with different ratios until you find your perfect recipe.
For those who, like me, enjoy a negroni but are looking for something more balanced and fresh, the Old Pal is a perfect choice. Because of the dry vermouth, there is less sweetness, and the impression is that the body—of the drink and yours—is lighter. But without further ado, let’s get to it.
OLD PAL
INGREDIENTS
- 60ml Rye Whiskey
- 30ml Campari
- 30ml dry vermouth (this Dog used Dolin Dry)
- Stirring paraphernalia
- Coupe glass or glass with ice
PREPARATION
- Add the liquid ingredients to the mixing glass, and stir with plenty of ice
- Drop into a previously chilled coupe glass, or a glass with ice. The classic version calls for a coupe.