The Old Boy: A Cocktail

Early on when my wife and I were dating she took me out to meet some friends of hers in the far-flung suburbs of Portland. We were driving along, and feeling self-conscious about what I was wearing (jeans, a striped French Navy-type tee, and a vintage ball cap), I remarked “What am I thinking coming out here looking like this? We’re gonna walk into this place and they’re gonna be like ‘who is this OLD BOY?’” The comment made my then-girlfriend laugh so hard she had to pull off the road to avoid crashing. It’s become a staple joke of our relationship, where my wife now calls me “her old boy” and makes jokes about me being one of the kids from The Sandlot all grown up. One night she had the idea that this old boy persona needed it’s own drink, and taking a cue from the WASP-y styles of Fitzgerald decided it needed to be classy but masculine, and had to start with rye whiskey. So, in an homage to the Manhattan I give you the Old Boy, a cocktail only a mother could love.

The Old Boy

• 1 1/2 oz. 1776 Rye

• 3/4 oz. Carpano Antica*

• 1/4 oz. Green Chartreuse

• 1 dash Orange Bitters

Combine all ingredients in mixing glass and stir over ice. Strain cocktail into chilled coupe, express lemon peel and add to drink, adjust your Windsor knot, and enjoy.

*Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino works as well if you like a more rich drink.