Agave Old Pal
Blanco tequila, Campari and dry vermouth, stirred. The Old Pal on tequila — drier and more bitter than a Jalisco Negroni, and the agave drink for a Campari lover.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the tequila, Campari and dry vermouth to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe and express a grapefruit twist over the top.
A thoughtful finish
- A peppery blanco; reposado makes it softer and closer to a Jalisco Negroni.
- Equal parts is the Old Pal's original formula and more bitter.
- Serve it on a rock for a slower drink.
Common mistakes
- Sweet vermouth, which makes a Jalisco Negroni.
- Mixto tequila.
- Shaking.
A few good questions.
What does an Agave Old Pal taste like?
Tequila's pepper and agave with Campari's bitter orange and dry vermouth's herbs — dry, bitter and bracing.
Old Pal or Negroni?
Dry vermouth makes it an Old Pal; sweet vermouth makes it a Negroni.
Blanco or reposado?
Blanco; its sharpness suits the dry build.
Who created the Old Pal?
Harry McElhone in Paris in the 1920s, with rye.
Variations
- Old Pal — Rye, Campari and dry vermouth.
- Jalisco Negroni — Tequila, Campari and sweet vermouth.
- Boulevardier — Bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth.
- Siesta — Tequila, Campari, grapefruit and lime.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Old Pal is Harry McElhone’s 1920s Paris drink of rye, Campari and dry vermouth — the Boulevardier’s drier sibling — and the Agave Old Pal is the same with blanco tequila, a 2010s riff that came with the Jalisco Negroni and the rest of the tequila-aperitivo wave. Dry vermouth and Campari make a drier, sharper drink than sweet vermouth, and a blanco tequila’s vegetal, peppery edge suits it better than a reposado’s oak; the result is a bracing, bitter aperitivo that tastes more of the agave than the Negroni versions do. A grapefruit twist is the usual garnish. It is sometimes called a Tequila Old Pal or a Mexican Old Pal.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Tequila Old Pal, 2014 (reference)
- Punch, Old Pal Variations, 2017 (reference)
- Harry McElhone, Barflies and Cocktails, 1927 (book)
Strength. About 1.51 US standard drinks at an estimated 25.2% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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