Skip advertisement Advertisement

Old Flame

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (206)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
12 fl oz Cointreau L'Unique triple sec liqueur
12 fl oz Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
12 fl oz Italian red bitter liqueur
1 fl oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Martini glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a MARTINI GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS flamed orange zest twist over cocktail, then use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Old Flame contains 173 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 17.16% alc./vol. (34.33° proof)
  • 19.3 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2001 by Dale DeGroff in New York, USA.

OLD FLAME *
I won first prize in the Fancy Cocktail category at the 2001 Martini & Rossi Grand Prix in Malaga with a version of this cocktail Jonathan Downey loves this drink with twice the gin and half the juice!
15 gin
15 Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
5 ml Campari
20 ml Cointreau
30 ml fresh orange juice
Flamed orange peel, for garnish

Shake all the ingredients well to chill and strain into a chilled 5½-6oz (165-180ml) martini glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Dale DeGroff, The Craft Of The Cocktail, 2003


OLD FLAME* (AKA FANCY NANCY
The Old Flame is a variation on the Negroni. I was doing cocktail dinners on my book tour for the first edition of The Craft of the Cocktail and paired the Negroni with the canapés. In Texas the bitter finish of the Negroni left the writer and photographer less than enthusiastic. I pulled their two drinks and retooled the recipe on the fly, adding a sweet note–Cointreau–and some orange juice. Nancy, the photographer, was very enthusiastic with the results. I renamed the drink the Fancy Nacy in her honour. I won first prize in the Fancy Cocktail category at the 2001 Martini & Rossi Grand Prix in Malaga with a version of this under another name, the Old Flame.
1 ounce Bombay dry gin
½ ounce Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
½ ounce Campari
½ ounce Cointreau
1 ounce fresh orange juice
Flamed orange zest coin, for garnish

Shake all the ingredients (except the garnish) well with ice to chill and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with the flamed orange zest coin.

Dale DeGroff, The Craft Of The Cocktail, 2020 Revised Edition

Review

As Dale DeGroff, this cocktail's creator, says, it's a Negroni softened by fresh orange juice and a splash of triple sec.

AKA: Fancy Nancy

Difford’s Shop logo
$3.04 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Comments & Discussion

Caspian Berggren Premium Member
I really like the concept with the cocktail. The orange juice and triple sec works great at making the Campari less bitter. It's not as good as a Negroni but I could certainly see this as an alternative for people who don't like Negronis.
score: 1
Caspian Berggren Premium Member
This also made me wonder - could it work to use grapefruit juice for those who want it more bitter?
score: 1
Ruth Harvey
Perfect compromise for the polarising Negroni lovers and haters!
score: 2
John CARR Premium Member
I used blood Orange juice as it was fresh in the fridge. Light and fruity overall, definitely sweet start, the reduced Campari bitterness comes in a little later than normal with the citric acid. Very pleasant and would happily serve to guests. If you’re finding too sweet I’d say reduce the triple sec to 10ml, and maybe try a punchier gin. I had fords (45%).
score: 2
John CARR Premium Member
I’m tempted to sub in some becherovka next time for a Christmas Flame.
score: 1
Tuber Magnatum Premium Member
I have tried this twice now, the first time as per recipe and the second time slightly increasing the gin to 1.25oz, as for me, the original ratio was too sweet (and I quite enjoy a sweet cocktail). I think now it may not be the sweetness that I reacted to the first time, but rather the heavy presence of orange. If I try this a third time, I will reduce the OJ to 1/2 or maybe 3/4 oz to see if this improves the overall balance. Having said that, as per other comments, the orange may appeal to those adverse to a classic Negroni.
score: 2
Perry Humphries
Negroni for non-Negroni folks. A good use of orange juice. Next time I would maybe bump up all the liquor a bit.
score: 2
Jaime M
So much softer and more refreshing than I was expecting. Finally, a negroni(sh) that I can foist upon my negroni hating friends.
score: 2
Justin Aniello
Excellent balance of ingrredients and second campari and orange juice drink I have loved, clearly the two are a perfect match.
score: 1
David Orme Premium Member
Superb. A lovely dry and crisp drink, one for the book
score: 1
Florian Ruf Premium Member
I used 1757 Vermouth di Torino and then Aperol to reduce the bitterness coming from the vermouth. In sum I think this is a really good cocktail, but you have to choose the best combination of vermouth and bitter liqueur.
score: 1
G. M. Genovese Premium Member
One of the best cocktails using orange juice (I used Cara Cara). (2 Mar 2024, 9:04a) ... Just made this again using Punt e Mes - that might solve the sweetness issue some of you might be experiencing... This cocktail happens to share a name with one of my favorite Thin Lizzy songs. Had it on repeat while preparing this drink and heating up some Cincinnati chili... Sigh, leftovers. (17 Oct 2024, 6:05a)
score: 4

Showing the first 10 of 19 comments.

Difford’s Shop logo
$3.04 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.