1. Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is arguably the most iconic drink of Mad Men. The next best thing to a neat whiskey, Don Draper is regularly seen with this classic vintage cocktail. The Old Fashioned is known to have been around since the 1800s, and for good reason. Use a smooth bourbon such as Maker's Mark or Bulleit, as their sweetness works well with the simple syrup to contrast nicely with the bitters. The basic formula can be varied for different tastes, for example swapping out the simple syrup for honey or varying the kind of bitters that you use. This experimentation is the perfect excuse to have a night drinking nothing but Old Fashioneds. For research.
Ingredients: 50ml bourbon 1 slice of orange peel 1 curl of lemon peel 1 maraschino cherry 1 tsp simple syrup 2-3 drops bitters
Preparation: Squeeze the orange peel and rub it around the inside of the glass, then leave it in. Put the cherry at the bottom at then add the simple syrup and bitters with some ice. Pour in the bourbon, and garnish with lemon peel.