How To...Drink like Don Draper

The Old-Fashioned is, as its name suggests, a classic. Since the early 19th century, this drink has been a staple in any mixologist’s repertoire, the grandaddy of cocktail culture as we know it. But don’t mistake this primogenitor as a libation past its prime. Our step-by-step guide to crafting a flawless Old Fashioned will transform you into a connoisseur in minutes.

The Old-FashionedThe Steps

1) As any competent bartender knows, every great drink begins with a suitable vessel. In this case, our glass will be simple and functional, like the drink itself. Look for a “rocks glass,” a simple tumbler with straight sides and a thick bottom. No frosted glasses either, men. We want people to see your creation in all its glory.

2) Unless you’re man enough to slug straight bourbon, we’ll need sugar to mellow the spirit of the drink. Keep it simple. Take a crystallized sugar cube and use water to dissolve it, working the grains into fine syrup.

3) The next step is bitters. Don’t let the name fool you, aromatic bitters don’t make the drink taste bitter. Rather, they bind the flavors of the spirit. Now here’s where things get a little specific. Not just any aromatic bitter will do. If you want to make the best drink, you have to use the best ingredients. This is where Angostura bitters come in. This fine flavoring is renown the world over, and represents the crème de la crème of cocktail bitters. In fact, Angostura bitters are so regarded, only five people in the entire world known the full recipe. The stuff is a little expensive—a 10oz bottle might run you the same price as a fifth of your choice of liquor—but it’s worth it. As Brylcreem said, a dab will do you. Shake a few drops into the tumbler.

4) Now, let’s not forget the most important part: the alco-hol. Though many mixers may experiment with tequila, rum, and whiskey, we like to keep things classic here. Two ounces of your favorite bourbon will make this drink sing.

5) Throw in one well carved, large ice-cube into your glass and mix well. We don’t want to spend all this time mixing up the perfect drink, only to chuck in a chunk of ice that looks like it broke off your gutter in the middle of January. Remember, aesthetics matter too. 6) Mix, and enjoy. You have just crafted the consummate Old-Fashioned. Congratulations! You may not be as rich, successful or mysterious as Don Draper, but at least you drink like him. Remember, for full Draperian effect, enjoy in your office, at home, on the train to work, before bed, after a shave, ahead of working out, in the park, at the mall, or any other time you might need to unwind.