5 Mad Men Cocktails to Cheer the End of an Era

Mad Men’s finale is April 5

Mad Men is ending, and with it, the end of an era. As New York City — the metropolis so stunningly captured in it — eagerly awaits the series finale, bartenders around town are putting on their vintage thinking caps and creating cocktails in honor of the show and characters.

The excitement has been so great that even the venerable 21 Club took part in Mad Men Dining Week. Now, bars — like those in the Gerber Group — are poised with glassware and spirits ready to mix up some libations that would make Don Draper and company proud.

The Gerber Group (GerberBars.com) has made nightlife its business with bars like Whiskey Blue, The Roof, and their newest spot, The Irvington. With so many energetic imbibing venues, it seemed natural to commemorate the AMC series with five series-inspired cocktails. For those who don’t live in NYC, Gerber has been kind enough to share its bars recipes.

Let’s face it, Mad Men has been and likely will continue to be a litmus test for the celebration of drinking on screen. If you aren’t convinced, check out this time lapse of every onscreen drink in Mad Men through season 5:

And, in the uncompromising words of Roger Sterling to Don, who doesn’t seem to truly appreciate what he sips: “You don’t know how to drink. Your whole generation, you drink for the wrong reasons. My generation we drink because it’s good. Because it feels better than unbuttoning your collar. Because we deserve it.” Amen to that, brother.

1. Don Draper: Old Fashioned

Courtesy of Whiskey Park

Don is rarely without an Old Fashioned in hand— which is the perfect choice for this Gatsby kind of guy. The smoky, murky drink with hints of sweet but lots of complex flavors definitely mirrors the soul of this layered man. Basic, yes, but you can’t argue with a clasic cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Old Forrester Bourbon
• 1 oz. tsp. Demerara Syrup
• 2 oz. dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 oz. dashes Regans Orange Bitters
• Orange twist, for garnish

Preparation: Stir. Rocks. Lemon and orange twist crossed in glass.

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2. Peggy Olson: Suit & Tie

Courtesy of The Roof

The Suit & Tie is a spin on the old-school cocktail, The Tuxedo. Similarly, Peggy is a spin on the traditional masculine role. With the mix of vodka, gin, and vermouth, this is a spin on the Vesper, vermouth stepping into Kina-Lillet’s shoes. It’s a serious drink for a serious gal — with a very tall ladder to climb.
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Absolut Elyx Vodka
• 3/4 oz. Plymouth Gin
• 3/4 oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth
• 1/4 oz. Maraschino
• 2 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters

Preparation: Stir. Martini (coupe). Lemon twist.

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3. Roger Sterling: The Aviation

Courtesy of Kingside

A timeless drink, for a timeless man. The frivolous sweetness of the crème de violette combined with the no-nonsense presence of the gin embodies the two facets of Roger Sterling.
Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz. Crème de Violette
• 1/2 oz. Maraschino
• 2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
• Bourbon-soaked cherries, for garnish

Preparation: Served in a martini coupe and garnished with 3 bourbon soaked cherries on a bamboo pick.

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4. Joan Holloway: Spicy Paloma

Courtesy of The Roof

The Paloma is Spanish for the dove, and who is more of a dove in Mad Men that the great beauty Joan Holloway herself. Of course, she’s a dove with a touch of spice, hence the addition of the Thai Chile Aperol.
Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
• 3/4 oz. Thai Chile Aperol
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• Grapefruit slice, for garnish

Preparation: Shake. Collins. Soda float. Grapefruit slice in glass.

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5. Pete Campbell: GG Manhattan

Courtesy of Whiskey Blue

Pete Campbell is a true Manhattanite—abrasive, aggressive, and yet, addictive. It’s only fitting that the drink named for this great city is dedicated to a man who represents it so fully.
Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 1 oz. Carpano Antica Vermouth
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Brandied cherries, for garnish

Preparation: Stir. Rocks. 3 skewered brandied cherries.