Opening Cocktail/Old Pal Cocktail

Today was sunny, windy, and downright cold if just sitting. We experienced just that this afternoon when we drove to Baton Rouge to watch the LSU ladies' tennis team take on South Carolina. We lasted about 2 1/2 hours, long enough to see LSU put the match on ice (no pun intended). They ended up winning all the matches.

We selected an 'Opening Cocktail' on page 131 in the Bartender's Guide for our drink of the day. It is almost the same recipe as an 'Old Pal Cocktail' (same page in the Guide), the difference being the Old Pal uses 1/4 oz more whiskey. I'm considering them identical drinks.

The recipe:

1/2 oz Grenadine
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Noilly Prat)
1 1/2 oz Blended Whiskey (Jim Beam Bourbon instead)

Stir with ice and strain into cocktail glass. I garnished with an orange slice.

I actually short-changed the Grenadine by about 1/3 oz (ran out), but the drink was very tasty even with that omission. More Grenadine would have made it too sweet. I would be more than willing to have either of these cocktails again.

Salud!