Mad Men and Whiskey: A Good Sunday

Whiskey was a part of Mad Men from the very first shot of the very first episode – Don Draper is doodling on a napkin in the corner booth of a bar with an empty glass.

“Do this again. Old Fashioned, please,” he tells the bartender.

Later in that episode, Joan gives secretary survival advice to Peggy (also just good workplace survival advice if you don’t happen to have a secretary):

Joan: Keep a fifth of something in your desk. Mr. Draper drinks rye. Also, invest in some aspirin, some band-aids, and a needle and thread.

Peggy: Rye is Canadian, right?

Joan: You better find out.

Whiskey goes on to make many more appearances on the show. It’s on Joan’s list of office supplies. It’s what Don pours to celebrate a new ad client, to toast a coworker, or just whenever he walks into his office or apartment.

It’s hard to watch an episode and not want a drink. So in honor of Mad Men finally returning, I am prepared with the makings for an old-fashioned and Don’s favorite whiskey brand – Canadian Club.  Cue the strings for the theme music – it’s time for the ad men and their adulterous, cocktail-filled lives.

Old Fashioned Recipe (from AMC website)

Ingredients:

2 dashes aromatic bitters
½ teaspoon sugar dissolved with water and bitters
1 ½ ounces of bourbon (or in this case, Canadian Club)
1 cherry
1 orange slice
1 lemon wedge

Fill glass with ice. Add cherry, orange slice, and lemon wedge. Pour in whiskey. 

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