the proof is in...: proof whisky, Episode 8: A Night to Remember, Vol. 77

Finally!!! After a very looonnnng hiatus, we will be able to catch up on the lives of our favourite characters in Sunday's two-hour episode of Mad Men Season 5. Today, we are covering some nifty 60s design in celebration of the show’s anticipated premiere. For more information on proof brands, visit our website www.proofbrands.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates on tastings, parties & events.

the Draper (Old Fashioned) 1 tsp sugar • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • water • 1 orange wedge • maraschino cherry • 2 oz proof whisky

Mix sugar, splash of water and Angostura bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Drop in a cherry and an orange wedge. Muddle into a paste using a muddler or the back of a spoon. Pour in proof whisky, fill with ice cubes and stir. Serve with vintage stir stick.

Ever wish you could mix an Old Fashioned just the way Don Draper likes it? Or prepare Oysters Rockefeller and a martini the way they did fifty years ago at one of Roger Sterling's favorite haunts, The Grand Central Oyster Bar? Ever wonder how Joan Harris manages to prepare a perfect crown roast in her tiny apartment kitchen? Or about the connection between Jackie Kennedy's 1962 White House tour and Betty Draper's Valentine's Day room service order?

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook serves up more than 70 recipes to satisfy a Mad Men appetite! From the tables of Manhattan's most legendary restaurants and bars to the Drapers' Around the World dinner, this book is your entrée to the culinary world of Man Men-era New York.

Planning on throwing a Mad Men Dinner Party this Sunday? We suggest this menu, created with recipes from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook. Start with the Shrimp Curry Butter Canapés (Season 3, Episode 9) or the Classic Shrimp Cocktail (Season 1, Episode 4)

Next move into the Oysters Rockefeller (Season 1, Episode), before devouring Trudy’s Rib Eye in the Pan (Season 1, Episode 3)

Finish your meal with Kitty’s Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (Season 2, Episode 1)

If you are in the market for some 60s vintage barware, furniture and accessories, boy, do we have the neighbourhood for you. Leslieville has a strip of awesome vintage shops.

Let’s work our way from west to east, starting at Philz 20th Century Design (792 Queen Street East, 416.461.9913) A collection of vintage furniture and accessories from various styles and era makes visiting Philz a worthy stop for any design purist.

Zig Zag (985 Queen Street East, 416.778.6495 www.modfurnishings.com) Located in the antique row of the Leslieville strip, Zig Zag supplies Toronto with vintage designs of the 1950s through to the 1970s. Recently featured in Wallpaper, Echoes, and the Toronto Star, their emphasis is furniture, lighting, glass, electronics and accessories for the home.

Machine Age Modern (1000 Queen Street East, 416.461.0471 http://machineagemodern.com/) For nearly two decades, Toronto's Jake Keck has offered modern vintage furniture, lighting and accessories. Jake's 20th century collection includes modern design icon's by legendary masters and rare international finds, all artistically arranged. These design elements coexist harmoniously among affordable, purposeful, stylish pieces still relevant today.

Ethel (1091 Queen Street East, 416.778.6608) Ethel is looking for a new home! They are still hoping to stay in Leslieville, but if not, they are looking for retail space in Corktown, Gerrard & Jones or possibly Riverside. Ethel is, at heart, an east end gal after all!

Guff (1142 Queen St East, 416.913.8025 http://guffonline.blogspot.ca) Guff is a used furniture store loaded with great stuff! In the mix you'll find interesting vintage finds, mid-century modern classics, re-purposed industrial pieces, and much more!

If you live in the West-end, these vintage stores are also worth visiting: Morba (665-667 Queen Street West www.morba.ca), BYOB (972 Queen St. West, 416.858.2932 http://byobto.com) and Bungalow (273 Augusta Avenue, www.bungalow.to)