Reformed Cynic

The Cocktails of Mad Men Week 5: Driving Under the Influence

Mayhem at Sterling Cooper! I wonder what the penalty was in 1963 for operating a John Deere under the influence, and severing a pompous prat's foot?  Roger's "Man up" comment to Harry was pure Silver Fox goodness.. To honor the end of Summer - and inadvertently bring some gallows humor to the table - I decided on the Sidecar this week:

Citrusy, Courvoisier-y, and with a deliciously sugared rim, it's a drink my ever-chic grandmother's set loved. Drink this as a health tonic (lots of Vit C!), drink this as an end to an interesting Summer, and most of all don't drink it if you plan on riding on a John Deere...

... or any wheeled/motorized vehicle. Really.

Next week: Seven Twenty Three. Looks like Duck is wooing Pegs.. personal, professional, or just plain revenge for being cut loose by PP&L?

The Cocktails of Mad Men Week 4: Braving "The Fog"

In a nod to the waning summer, cool and rainy weather last week, and in honor of championship tennis, I decided to cut through "The Fog" with a Mika's Cup. Essentially a Pimm's Cup with an extra kick of Gin, it packed a powerful punch. I am no stranger to Pimm's Cups, a lovely drink that I have all summer long, and is also one of the unofficial tipples of Wimbledon. The US Open wrapped up this past week, and I think that this 3-flags version of a Pimm's suited the Women's Semi-Final nicely.

I also loved the resurfacing of Duck Phillips - sharp mind, lover of Gin; also unfortunately someone who can't hold his drink. Great interaction between Pete and Peggy, too - I wonder how long it'll be before those two erupt over their shared secret.

Without further ado, here is Mika's Cup:

and again:

I loved the light sepia color, and the fact that Noir makes a damn strong drink! No watered down disappointments here!

Next week: "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency" - a visit by the Home Office. This could call for something stiff and plummy..

The Cocktails of Mad Men: Weeks 2 and 3

I've been a little remiss in posting, so I have two weeks' worth of drinks. First, here's the Classic Cocktail menu that I'll be wending my way through:



There is also a special "Mad Men" drink selection:

By and large, these are the drinks that I'll feature here.

In my previous post, I mentioned the two drinks I had while watching "Love Among the Ruins" - a wonderful Hendrick's & Tonic and the Stolly-bolly-esque "Betty's Bubbles".I've had it in a champagne flute, but for some reason this one was in a Martini glass.

Although "My Old Kentucky Home" centered around a Derby Day Party at a country club (ostensibly in Westchester or on Long Island) and Reefer Madness back at the Sterling Coop offices, I decided to sample the swinging French 75. It's another lovely Champagne-based cocktail, with fresh citrus juice, Courvoisier, Bombay Sapphire, and a sugared rim, which was the only thing I could find any fault with. Fizzy and fun, I would have this in the early evening, watching the sun set on a terrace overlooking the Ocean. Being on the Cote d'Azur would be nice too, but who's being picky?

I missed  "The Arrangements" as I had a rendez-vous,and though I missed Sal's mincing about and the demise of Gene Hofstadt (and the birth of counter-culture Sally), I did drink a marvellous Shiraz with Excellent company that evening!

Next up: "The Fog". It's been raining and misty up here lately, so we'll see which drink melds with the weather best. Any suggestions or ideas?