- 1
Place a Nick and Nora glass in the freezer or fill with ice water to chill.
- 2
Combine rye whiskey, Campari, and dry vermouth in a mixing glass.
- 3
Fill the mixing glass two-thirds full with ice.
- 4
Stir continuously for approximately 20 seconds until well chilled and properly diluted.
- 5
Discard the ice water from the chilled glass.
- 6
Strain the cocktail into the chilled Nick and Nora glass.
- 7
Express a lemon peel twist over the surface of the drink, run it around the rim, and place it on the rim or drop it into the glass as garnish.
The Old Pal is traditionally built as an equal-parts drink, but many bartenders bump the rye to 45ml to better assert the spirit against Campari's assertive bitterness - the 2:1:1 ratio here leans into that modern convention. First documented by Harry McElhone in his 1927 'Barflies and Cocktails,' it was named in honor of International Herald Tribune sports editor William 'Sparrow' Robertson.
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