When characterizing Don Draper's exploits, two words come to mind: booze and women. (Honorable mention to regret).
We can't help you win the affections of Megan Draper (played by the lovely Jessica Pare) but we can help you prepare some on point cocktails to drink while devouring the latest episode of Mad Men. Make like your favorite characters and sip on these potent libations to dull the pain of watching Don's downward spiral: 15 Awesome Mad Men Inspired Cocktails.
Also check out more cocktails on Complex TV below.
When characterizing Don Draper's exploits, two words come to mind: booze and women. (Honorable mention to regret).
We can't help you win the affections of Megan Draper (played by the lovely Jessica Pare) but we can help you prepare some on point cocktails to drink while devouring the latest episode of Mad Men. Make like your favorite characters and sip on these potent libations to dull the pain of watching Don's downward spiral: 15 Awesome Mad Men Inspired Cocktails.
Also check out more cocktails on Complex TV below.
The Old Fashioned
Who Would Drink It: Don Draper. The old fashioned is Don's signature drink. Throughout the series, we spot Don sipping and even making this classic drink for himself (and for Conrad Hilton). Don would enjoy this updated riff on his cocktail of choice, a more exciting and unique version that would keep him on his toes.
Ingredients:
1/2 packet granulated sugar
1 Maraschino cherry Orange peel
2 oz. Maker's Mark
2 dashes Bitters
1 oz. Apple Cider Cinnamon stick
Method: Build in rocks glass. Add Maraschino cherry, granulated sugar, orange peel, bitters and muddle. Add Maker's Mark and apple cider, top with ice. Stir and garnish with cinnamon stick.
Recipe courtesy of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto/Tribeca Canvas
Queen Bee
Who Would Drink It: Joan Holloway. Who else could carry the title of Queen Bee with conviction? She's the driving force behind Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and everyone knows it. No one wants to be on the wrong side of this bee—she stings.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. American Harvest Vodka
1 oz. St. Germain
.5 oz. Yuzu Juice
.5 oz. Honey Water
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice. Then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange.
Old Dog, New Trick
Who Would Drink It: Roger Sterling. Though everyone on the show drinks heavily, no one can outpace Roger, and his choice of spirit is inevitably vodka. He may be one of the oldest people at the agency, but he's unafraid of experiences more suited to the young...like dropping LSD.
Ingredients:
4 slices fresh ginger
One half lime, cut in wedges
Juice from one half lime
1.5 oz. Lucky Dog Vodka
.5 oz. light agave nectar
Method: Muddle lime wedges with ginger root slices. Add to cocktail shaker and mix with agave nectar, lime juice and Lucky Dog Vodka. Shake well. Serve over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
Bombay Sapphire East Lemongrass Collins
Who Would Drink It: Megan Draper. She's sweet and refreshing (particualrly in Don's eyes) but she still maintains a fiesty bite.
Ingredients:
2 parts Bombay Sapphire East Gin
.75 parts Lemon juice
.50 parts St. Germain
Method: Muddle thumbnail lemongrass sliced up. Build all with cubed ice and top with soda.
The Housewife's Negroni
Who Would Drink It: Betty Draper Francis. The predominately bitter Negroni embodies the dissatisfied housewife, who dutifully turned her back on her education and professional career to become a homemaker.
Ingredients:
1.25 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1.25 oz. Campari
1.25 oz. Martini Sweet Vermouth
Method: Stir with ice and strain into chilled coupe or over ice in a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Pete's Perfect Manhattan
Who Would Drink It: Pete Campbell. Considering his obsession with living in Manhattan (ie: maintaining an urban bachelor pad), it's only appropriate that he enjoy a Manhattan. But if Don is Manhattan with rye, Pete is a new, younger twist on the same concoction.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Zacapa 23 Rum
3 tsp. Dry Vermouth
3 tsp. Sweet Vermouth
1 dash Bitters
1 tsp. Honey Syrup Orange Twist for Garnish
Method: Combine Zacapa 23 Rum, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, bitters, and honey syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with orange twist.
Aviation Rickey Cocktail
Who Would Drink It: Peggy Olson. She seemed like the naive new girl once upon a time, but at Cutler, Gleason and Chaough she's revealing herself as the boss she really is. Considering how quickly Peggy's stock has taken flight, and Aviation gin seems like a fitting spirit.
Ingredients:
1 .5 oz. Aviation American Gin
.75 oz. freshly pressed lime juice
1 tsp. simple syrup Soda water
Method: In a Collins glass, mix Aviation American Gin, lime juice, simple syrup and ice. Stir. Top with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Sterling Martini
Who Would Drink It: Roger Sterling. He loves vodka and martinis, and guzzles them often. Well, when LSD isn't available.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Ketel One Vodka
.5 oz. Dry Vermouth
Lemon Twist for Garnish
Method: Pour Ketel One Vodka and dry vermouth into a cocktail shaker with ice and stir well. Strain in chilled martini glass. Garnish lemon twist.
Galavanter
Who Would Drink It: Don Draper. Don is ceaselessly in search of pleasure (or, perhaps more accurately, distraction) outside of his marriage and job. Whether it be with a stiff drink or a lady in the bed, Don is certainly a galavanter.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Bulleit Rye
.5 oz. St. Germain
.5 oz. Velvet Falernum
2 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
1 barspoon Dry Vermouth
Method: Stir all ingredients in an ice filled mixing glass and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Intercontinental
Who Would Drink It: Joan Holloway. Because it's red and spicy.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Bols Genever
.25 oz. Combier Kümmel
1 barspoon Demerara syrup
1 dash House Made Celery Bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
Method: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice and stir. Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
Created by John McCarthy, Greenwich Project
Man About Town
Who Would Drink It: Don Draper. It's dark and complex, just like him.
Ingredients:
1.5. oz. Brugal 1888
1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
.75 oz. Campari
1 dash Orange Bitters
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Method: Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass. Strain and serve on the rocks, garnish with an Orange Peel.
Created by Scott Fitzgerald, Greenwich Project
Herradura Anejo Sazerac Cocktail
Who Would Drink It: Pete Campbell. The smoky, earthy flavor of the 24-month aged tequila which provides the perfect pair to a cigar to celebrate his induction to fatherhood.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Herradura A̱ejo
1 bar spoon simple syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
2 dashes Peychaud bitters
Method: Spritz a little absinthe into a chilled coupe glass and set aside. Place all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with cubed ice. Stir well, strain into the chilled coupe glass. Snap a twist of lemon zest over the glass and discard, garnish with a star Anise pod.
Nolet's Silver Berries & Bubbles
Who Would Drink It: Peggy Olson. This cocktail is refreshing yet still potent just like Peggy.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Nolet's Silver Dry Gin
1 oz. Lemon Juice
.75 oz. Simple Syrup
.25 oz. Crem de Mure
3 Blackberries
6 Blueberries
Method: Without muddling, add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour directly into a Collins glass. Top with champagne. Garnish with a fresh blackberry and a lemon twist.
Bitter & Sweet
Who Would Drink It: Joan Holloway. She's a little bitter on the outside, but ultimately a kind, tender person seeking love and affection.
Ingredients:
.5 ounce Pear Eau de Vie (Rothman & Winter or Clear Creek)
.5 ounce Benedictine
.5 ounce St. Germain
.25 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 dash Aromatic Bitter Cr̩mant d'Alsace sparkling wine
Method: Shake ingredients & strain into coupe glass. Top with 2 ounces of a Cr̩mant d'Alsace sparkling wine. Garnish with slice of Bosc Pear.
Ginger Mezcal Old Fashioned
Who Would Drink It: Don Draper. Several seasons back, Don was teaching his daughter Sally how to make cocktails for him and he said "muddle means smash the cherry." He was undoubtedly drinking an old fashioned, and this lively play on the classic would easily win him over.
Ingredients:
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange slice
2 dashes Fee Bros Old Fashioned Bitters
2 oz. Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal
.5 oz. Domaine de Canton Ginger Liquor
Method: Muddle maraschino cherry and orange slice with 2 dashes Fee Bros Old Fashioned Bitters. Stir and strain contents over fresh ice in rocks glass.
Recipe courtesy of the Coppa Boston
