Don Draper's Old Fashioned
Created by Alec Espiritu
The Old Fashioned the way Don Draper makes it on Mad Men: rye, a sugar cube, bitters, muddled orange and cherry, and a splash of soda.
Flavor profile
- Sweet
- 62 out of 100
- Bitter
- 39 out of 100
- Herbal
- 32 out of 100
- Smoky
- 52 out of 100
- Boozy
- 94 out of 100
How to make a Don Draper's Old Fashioned
To make a Don Draper's Old Fashioned, stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass: 2 oz rye whiskey, ¼ oz simple syrup and 2 dashes Angostura bitters, then top with ¼ oz soda water. Garnish with orange and maraschino cherry.
You'll need
- Rye whiskey2 oz
- Simple syrupor 1 sugar cube + a splash of water¼ oz
- Angostura bitters2 dashes
- Soda water¼ oz
- Orange, Maraschino cherrygarnish
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Instructions
- 1
Put the sugar cube in an old-fashioned glass and soak it with the bitters and a splash of soda water.
- 2
Add the orange slice and cherry and muddle gently until the sugar dissolves.
- 3
Add ice, pour in the rye and stir until cold.
The story
This is the Old Fashioned the way Don Draper makes it on Mad Men. He orders one in the very first scene of the show, and in Season 3, Episode 3 ("My Old Kentucky Home") he steps behind the bar and makes his own for Conrad Hilton: a sugar cube, bitters, muddled orange and cherry, a splash of soda and a heavy pour of Old Overholt rye. That was the usual way to make the drink in the 1960s. Our classic Old Fashioned is the modern version: no muddled fruit, just simple syrup, bitters and an orange twist. Don pours closer to 4 oz; 2 oz is plenty. Rye keeps it true to the scene, but bourbon works too, and it's my pick.
Don Draper's Old Fashioned questions
What's in a Don Draper's Old Fashioned?
2 oz rye whiskey, ¼ oz simple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and ¼ oz soda water. Garnish with orange and maraschino cherry.
How do you make a Don Draper's Old Fashioned?
Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass: rye whiskey, simple syrup and Angostura bitters, then top with soda water. Garnish with orange and maraschino cherry.
What does a Don Draper's Old Fashioned taste like?
Mostly sweet and smoky, with a noticeable alcohol warmth. It's a very strong drink at about 28% ABV once mixed.
How strong is a Don Draper's Old Fashioned?
About 28% ABV after mixing with ice, close to a neat spirit.
How many standard drinks is a Don Draper's Old Fashioned?
About 1½ US standard drinks: it has about 25 ml of pure alcohol, and one US standard drink is 14 grams (about 18 ml).
What's the difference between a Don Draper's Old Fashioned and a Flying Scotchman?
Both use rye whiskey, simple syrup and Angostura bitters. The Don Draper's Old Fashioned adds soda water, while the Flying Scotchman uses sweet vermouth. The Don Draper's Old Fashioned is stirred and served in a rocks glass; the Flying Scotchman is shaken and served in a cocktail glass. The Don Draper's Old Fashioned is the stronger of the two.
Can I make a Don Draper's Old Fashioned without Angostura bitters?
Yes: use orange bitters for Angostura.
Where does the Don Draper's Old Fashioned come from?
This is the Old Fashioned the way Don Draper makes it on Mad Men.