With millions of viewers holding their breath in anticipation of the premiere of Mad Men’s final season this Sunday, April 13, let’s take a look back at how the trend-setting series changed today’s cocktail culture.
Settle your nerves a la Betty Draper in anticipation of Mad Men’s final season with a classic gin Gimlet
From the moment of the series premier in July of 2007, everything changed. In the blink of an eye the classics became chic as a new generation turned their eyes towards such iconic libations as the old-fashioned, martini and gimlet.
Exploring the Madison Avenue advertising world the early 1960s, the series has had a greater impact on the spirits industry than any other show in the history of television. “What Sex and the City did in popularizing the Cosmo, Mad Men has managed to do across the board – sparking a full-fledged cocktail revival, and a renewed interest in classic spirits like gin,” says Lorraine Abelow, an industry veteran and founder of luxury PR firm, Abelow PR, who currently represent Martin Miller’s Gin.
Seven years later, there is a new focus on quality, as consumers, like their favorite Mad Men characters, aim to adopt an expert sensibility – in short, knowing what they like and how they like it. Today, you cannot walk into a high-end cocktail bar without seeing versions of the gimlet, Tom Collins, or martini on the menu, and correspondingly patrons at the bar enjoying them.
Mad Men Cocktails to Celebrate the Premiere
As you plan your viewing party for this week’s Mad Men premiere, here are offering our top picks for Mad Men inspired gin cocktails to suit your favorite characters.
Roger’s Martini
Television’s current proprietor of the three-martini lunch, Roger Sterling’s affinity for the classic, strong cocktail has a buzz all its own –Don Draper himself even tryied the “Roger Sterling Diet” of oysters and martinis during one episode. While Roger opted Stoli vodka martinis, we are spicing things up with the spirit of the moment – opting instead for the classic recipe made with gin.
Ingredients:
· 3 ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
· 1 ounce dry vermouth
Directions:
Stir all ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
Betty’s Gimlet
Flashback to the second episode ever of Mad Men when viewers were first introduced to the mask of Betty’s deep insecurities – her love for the gimlet. Settle your nerves a la Betty, and enjoy one of the most classic gin cocktails.
Ingredients:
· 2 ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
· ½ ounce fresh lime juice
· ½ ounce simple syrup
· 1 bar spoon lime marmalade
Directions:
Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker, shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lime zest.
Megan’s French 75
Celebrate Megan’s effervescent femininity and also, her pronpensity for speaking French and enjoy the iconic French 75. We all know how much Megan Draper loves to throw a good party, so grab the Champagne and gin – they’ve never tasted so good!
Ingredients:
· 2 ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
· 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
· 1½ ounces simple syrup
· Top with Champagne
Directions:
Combine the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice in a shaker, shake and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne.
What Mad Men inspired cocktails will you enjoy at your viewing party this Sunday? Sound off in the comments.