Floral, slightly bitter and tart, and with an undercurrent of lilting sweetness for balance, the Old Friend is a classic aperitif you’ll want to get chummy with.
Similar to a Negroni, but with a sweeter side, the Old Friend cocktail is not to be confused with its distant cousin, the Old Pal, which is whisky based, with Campari, dry vermouth and a lemon twist. Adapted from a recipe created by Jim Meehan in 2012 at Chefs Club Aspen in Colorado, the Old Friend introduces elderflower and grapefruit juice in the place of vermouth, with a base of gin rather than whisky. One of the more approachable Campari cocktails around, if you feel like a jaunt into the Campari camp, this is the guy to buddy up with.
Gin, the backbone of the cocktail, gives botanical qualities, balanced by a tropical zippy acidity from the grapefruit juice. Elderflower adds sweetness and a floral edge, and Campari brings a hint of bitterness, but without overpowering. Its alluring and Instagram-worthy bright pink appearance doesn’t hurt matters either. All in all, the Old Friend is a classically styled cocktail you’ll want to share with your mates, new and old.
