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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Old Pal

Old Pal is a cocktail made with Rye Whiskey, Campari, and Dry Vermouth. It is served in a Nick And Nora Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic32.8% ABV3 ingredients

At a Glance

257 kcalCalories
32.8%ABV
7.1gSugar
9.2gCarbs
2.18Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 3 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

Tools:Mixing Glass

How to Make It

  1. Chill cocktail glass.
  2. Add ingredients to a mixing glass, and fill 2/3 full with ice.Fill
  3. Stir about 20 seconds.Stirred
  4. Empty cocktail glass and strain into the glass.Strain
  5. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.Garnish

How to Serve

Glass
Nick And Nora Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Stirred
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Old Pal cold and taste the bitterness before adjusting sweetness. A citrus peel or clean garnish can lift the aroma without making it sweeter. It is commonly matched with charcuterie, olives, salty snacks style pairings.

Taste

What does Old Pal taste like?

Old Pal has a drier, more aromatic profile. Bitter, herbal or botanical notes give it structure and make it feel less sugary.

Primary flavours

HerbalAperitifBitter

Supporting notes

BotanicalCitrusDryOak

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Full-bodied
  • Bold and complex

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Old Pal is right for you

Old Pal suits drinkers who like drier, more aromatic cocktails. Choose it when you want structure, bitterness or herbal lift instead of a sweet fruit profile. The listed serve is about 32.8% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Old Pal if...

Skip Old Pal if you prefer soft, sweet or fruit-led drinks. Bitter and herbal cocktails can feel dry or intense if you are expecting easy sweetness.

When to serve

  • AperitifSuggested from its bitter and dry notes.
  • Happy HourSuggested from its bitter and dry notes, pairing with charcuterie and olives.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

CharcuterieOlivesSalty Snacks

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Rye Whiskey2 oz

Straight Rye WhiskeyGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount; taste before changing sweetener.
What changes
Straight rye whiskey is usually a close replacement for generic rye whiskey in cocktails.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
BourbonWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; reduce sweetener slightly if needed.
What changes
Bourbon can replace rye whiskey when a rounder, sweeter version is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Campari1 oz

AperolNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use the same amount, but expect a much softer drink.
What changes
Aperol can replace Campari only if you want a sweeter, lighter and less bitter result.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Dry Vermouth1 oz

Dry SherryWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount, then taste; the result will be less herbal and more savoury.
What changes
Dry sherry can replace dry vermouth when a drier, more saline and less herbal variation is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Lillet BlancKnown variation
How much to use
Start with the recipe amount and taste; reduce it if the drink becomes too soft or sweet.
What changes
Lillet Blanc can stand in for dry vermouth in a Martini-style drink, but it produces a softer and slightly sweeter variation.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Sweet VermouthNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use only if a sweeter vermouth profile is acceptable.
What changes
Sweet vermouth is not a neutral substitute for dry vermouth; it makes the drink sweeter and rounder.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make an Old Pal at home?
Yes. The Old Pal uses 3 ingredients, making it easy to prepare at home. You will need a Nick And Nora Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.