The Sterling

If Don Draper ordered a martini that actually matched his complexity, it would be The Sterling. This is what the advertising men at Sterling Cooper might have sipped during those hushed, after-hours meetings when the secretaries had gone home and the real deals got made. The combination of cognac and rye whiskey creates something more interesting than either spirit could manage alone. You get the grape-rich smoothness of good brandy meeting the peppery bite of rye, all wrapped up with Bénédictine's honeyed herbs and a ghost of anise from the absinthe rinse. Dry vermouth keeps everything in check, preventing the sweetness from taking over. The result is bold and uncompromising, the kind of drink that doesn't apologize for being strong. This is your Friday night closer, the cocktail for when you want something serious and contemplative. Mix one up, find a comfortable chair, and feel like you just closed a campaign for Lucky Strike.