Name: Perfect Pal
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Rye whiskey 50% abv; 30 ml Orange-red aperitivo; 15 ml Rosso/sweet vermouth; 15 ml Dry vermouth; 2 dash Orange bitters

Ingredients

1 fl oz

Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)

1 fl oz

Bittersweet orange-red aperitivo

¹⁄₂ fl oz

Strucchi Rosso Vermouth (chilled)

¹⁄₂ fl oz

Strucchi Dry Vermouth (chilled)

2 dash

Orange Bitters by Angostura

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist and quarter orange slice wheel.

Method

STIR all ingredients with ice.

STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and discard.

Garnish with quarter orange wheel on rim.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Perfect Pal contains 178 calories

Alcohol content:

1.3 standard drinks
20.48% alc./vol. (40.97° proof)
18.6 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth (di Torino), Dry vermouth — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

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Simon Sedgley Premium Member 13w

To our eye this looks, structurally, like a distant cousin of the Psychopathia Sexualis. Those who decry the sweetness here might wish to try that one. Our remedy was to split the aperitivo 15ml Aperol and 10ml Tempus Fugit Bitter and add 5ml Fino Sherry...respectively, a sort of friendly wave to its mother Old Pal and distant cousin.

Tim Co 16w

Good subtitute on the summer porch to an Aperol Spritz

Calvin Grant Premium Member 28w

Just made this with Cappelletti, did not disappoint. The bitter-sweet was well balanced, negroni like. Look forward to trying this with a proper orange-red aperitivo, perhaps Luxardo if I can find it. As Tuber and Simon suggest, do express the orange zest onto the drink albeit it's not in the recipe per se.

John CARR Premium Member 19w

Yes agreed re the oil spray bring essential here (fell off the instructions seemingly, Simon). Even lighter and fruitier this evening with. Melbourne-based Gospel solera rye and Dolin rouge. Distinct vinous notes also.
Calvin, having tried Luxardo apperitivo against Aperol, I definitely favour the original. Bumps it up the extra, all important half star which the Discerning such as ourselves appreciate 😉😝🤣

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 19w

Thanks for bringing to my attention. The orange zest twist now features in the method.

Tuber Magnatum Premium Member 36w

I struggled a bit with the first few sips trying to decide too sweet, not enough bitterness, etc. Rereading Difford's description and recipe thinking about how I might modify, I realized I had forgotten to express oils from an orange garnish. Doing so for the rest of the drink was a revelation. This drink requires this and definitely elevates it. Having said that, I'm not sure I will add it to my "Favourite Collection" until I contrast this with the more bitter Old Pal version.

John CARR Premium Member 19w

Agreed, I was wavering over adding a dash of angostura, but left well alone in the end and added an extra zesty spray instead. I think vermouth di Torino and high abv rye are key here for those of us who are used to and appreciate a heavy duty Manhattan etc.

Marek Vranka 38w

made it with bourbon, thus even sweeter than it should be, but I liked it regardless...

Loïc Pierre 40w

Found jt great, but too sweet. Next time I'll try with campari instead of aperol. And maybe less sweet (rosso) vermouth and more dry vermouth.

Chris Dimal 41w

Great drink. It felt like a Manhattan's regality and seriousness combined with the sprightly nature of a Negroni. I will say I used Select Aperitivo instead of Aperol, which made it even more suited as a digestif/nightcap.