If you are an avid watcher of Mad Men like I am, you know that Mr. Draper likes (read: relies almost solely on) Canadian Club. You also know that he likes an Old-Fashioned when he’s out. We can see this right from the very first scene in Season One, Episode One “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
So what is it about the Old-Fashioned that is so alluring? For starters, it’s a pretty no frills cocktail. The Old-Fashioned is not for the faint at heart, but rather for those who aren’t looking to hide the flavor of their whiskey–just heighten it. Some claim this cocktail is far too strong, but there’s no more booze in here than in any other cocktail. Instead, there’s less of everything else so the drink itself is much smaller or shorter.
I say, if you are going to pick up one of Don’s habits, let it be the Old-Fashioned at a bar. But, please folks, sip smart.
Don Draper’s Old-Fashioned
2 oz. Canadian Club or rye whisky
2 oz. club soda
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
1 satsuma orange wheel
1 red cherry
Rocks glass
Ice
Place the sugar cube in the bottom of the rocks glass. Add the dashes of bitters and mix lightly to combine. Pour over the club soda and add the ice. Top with the whisky and garnish with the orange wedge and cherry.
This doesn’t differ much from Draper’s Old-Fashioned, but if you ask me a fresh red cherry makes it much more acceptable in 2014 than a maraschino cherry. You will likely never see me use one of those. Also, I used a satsuma orange because, a) that’s what I had on hand and, b) they are delicious.
Sip smart,
Dane
A version of this Old-Fashioned will appear in tomorrow’s Dish + Drink. Check it out.
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