Drink Like a Mad Man

I have never missed an episode of Mad Men.

No one quite
gets this about me.

However, if you only knew how similar this show is to the
PR guy world I lived as a kid — even down to the Joan P. Harris (née Holloway)
type that used to sashay down the halls of my uncle’s ad agency — well then
you would understand.

Yet I digress.

So last week, Don and the gang were back, alternatively
facing their problems and running away from them. One constant remained: Don
Draper and his erstwhile gang dig their booze. So this Sunday when you tune
into AMC for some debauchery and drama, don’t forget to pour one of my favorite
four from the show. Oh, and don’t forget the fancy ice cubes (scroll to the
bottom).

Old Fashioned

2 dashes aromatic bitters

1/2 tsp sugar dissolved with water and bitters

1 1/2 oz of Makers Mark bourbon

1 cherry

1 orange slice

1 lemon wedge

When he’s not drinking Canadian Club straight, Don Draper
favors the old fashioned, which is filled with Vitamin C and fruitiness to
offset its somewhat harsh flavor. Counting the sugar, but not the fruit, this
drink comes in at 130 calories and 85% efficiency. Better than just about any
beer out there and way cooler to drink. John’s Grill in San Francisco, where
much of The Maltese Falcon was set, makes a good one.

Gibson Martini

2 1/2 oz Tanquerey Gin

3/4 oz dry vermouth

3-5 cocktail onions

A drink that Roger Sterling, who prefers the clear
liquors (Stoli is his go-to), may be seen imbibing, the Gibson’s 99% efficiency
is top notch. Clocking in at 180 calories, it’s especially strong too, with as
much alcohol as 2.2 Bud Lights. Maybe Roger could switch to something not quite
as strong in light of his health issues.

Manhattan

1 3/4 oz bourbon

3/4 oz sweet vermouth

dash of aromatic bitters

1 maraschino cherry

155 calories and 85% efficiency isn’t bad. The bitters
and cherry were left out of the calculation since the former is a trace amount
and the latter technically not part of this drink.

Vodka Gimlet

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

3/4 oz Lime Juice

Fresh Lime Wedges

142 calories and 68% efficiency here. The problem is that
lime juice used in a bar (like Rose’s Lime Juice) is loaded with calories.
Using unsweetened lime juice moves the gimlet into 100% territory, but it
probably doesn’t taste nearly as good.

Ice, Ice Baby to Go!

Don Draper would never go for such flamboyance with his drinks, but you can certainly take your next glass of scotch or vodka to the next level
with 3D on the Rocks.

Each cube was made with fresh spring water and a
precision drill.

Enjoy the view.