Ah, nostalgia. “A twinge in the heart, far more powerful than memory alone,” according to a certain Don Draper.
The word “nostalgia” actually means “homesickness,” to which I expect Draper can relate as well as any of us. Mad Men draws to a close this Sunday night, folks. The end of an era. Or, several eras.
New Yorkers can toast the send-off of Peggy and Don and Pete and Joan and the rest of these hard-bitten storytellers with cocktails at Manhattan’s Viceroy Hotel, which opened on 57th St in 2013. There, the tellers of Liquid Story have concocted a range of Mad Men inspired “drinkiepoos” they are serving up at The Roof, their oasis bar overlooking Central Park. In fact, the view from up there is likely to put you in mind of Don Draper’s iconic tumble in the series’ opening sequence.
If you’re not in the neighborhood, no problem – they’ve offered a sampling of recipes perfect for an at-home send-off to some of the most compelling characters in recent TV history.
These recipes all come from The Roof at the Viceroy – thanks, guys!
Don Draper: Draper’s had his little, um, inconsistencies, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his go-to cocktail. As the season closes, he’s disappeared into middle America and checked into a seedy motel (and checked out of the life he has known). He’s learned valuable lessons along the way, sure, but the man is lost. Will Don stay the course and once again become Dick Whitman? Don’s drink?
The Old-Fashioned
Ingredients
2 oz. Old Forrester Bourbon
1 oz. Demerara Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Regans Orange Bitters
Preparation: Stir. Rocks. Lemon and orange twist crossed in glass.
Peggy Olsen: In what is likely one of the most visually memorable moments of the season, Peggy Olsen struts into McCann Erickson after splitting a bottle of vermouth with Roger Sterling. Compelling and captivating, Peggy holds Bert Cooper’s old painting of “an octopus pleasuring a lady” under her arm and shows she’s not afraid to do things her own way. Peggy’s drink?
The Suit & Tie
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Absolut Elyx Vodka
.75 oz. Plymouth Gin
.75 oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth
.25 oz. Maraschino
2 dashes Regans Orange Bitters
Preparation: Stir. Martini or coupe. Garnish with lemon twist.
Pete Campbell: The tried and true Manhattanite realizes that the city isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. He’s incredibly successful at McCann Erickson – maybe even excelling past his other former partners. But Duck Phillips convinces Pete to give Learjet a shot. Pete musters up the courage to ask Trudy to reunite their family and move to Wichita. Will the promise of starting over last for the couple, or is Weiner toying with fans’ need for a happy ending? Raise one last glass to the city in which he was born and bred. Pete’s drink?
The GG Manhattan
Ingredients
2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 oz. Carpano Antica Vermouth
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Preparation: Stir. Rocks. Garnish with 3 skewered brandied cherries.
Joan Holloway: Joan’s a force to be reckoned with on the Avon and Topaz accounts, and her treatment by the old boys’ club at McCann Erickson… well, let’s say it isn’t working for her. You think Joan’s going to suborn chauvinism? Hell no. She ends up with fifty cents on the dollar for her partnership share (some things never change) but she walks out invoking Betty Friedan and the ACLU. Joan’s drink?
The Spicy Paloma
Ingredients
2 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
.75 oz. Thai ChileAperol
1 oz. grapefruit juice
.5 oz. lime juice
.5 oz. simple syrup
Preparation: Shake. Collins. Soda float. Garnish with grapefruit slice in glass.
They say you can’t go home again. And that’s probably true. But at least for some of us, there’s syndication. And for the rest of us, something elegant to drink.