The Old Pal has regained a place of honor in the cocktail canon, using fiery rye to balance Campari and dry vermouth. (Photo by iStock/Edalin)

A simple three-ingredient drink that succumbed to the scourge of blended Canadian whisky, the Old Pal has recently regained some traction as an American rye cocktail, returning with a bolder profile. Essentially a variation of a Negroni—itself a classic gin cocktail with Campari and vermouth as co-stars—this rye variation calls for dry vermouth rather than sweet, with Campari left to do the heavy lifting of providing both sweetness and an edge of bitterness. Rye firepower, vermouth’s vinous element as a modifier, and Campari’s bitter-sweet balance make this a classic three-part cocktail.

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