The Rolling Stones love Rice Krispies

Poor Don Draper. He never landed the Rolling Stones to do that jingle for Heinz baked beans. But it wasn't so far-fetched to try: Mick and friends did do a commercial jingle.

It only aired in the U.K. in 1964, never in the U.S. But still, it's pretty snappy. I say we bring it back, in honor of "Mad Men" coming back, too. Let's see if it sticks in your head like "Zou Bisou Bisou." (And my thanks to my friend Trent Roberts, who started my rainy Friday morning with "Rice Krispies.")

Friday toast: Plymouth Sloe Gin Fizz

Maybe it's a good toast to the cocktail culture of "Mad Men," returning March 25. Maybe it's a farewell toast to the English propriety of "Downton Abbey," already gone for the year.

Or maybe it's just a good way to greet spring. But I ended a successful grail quest last month. And that's a tale worth telling.

Like most people, I had bad memories of sloe gin. Too-sweet, too-red, too-girl drink. I had a brief splurge with it as a young person. Ruined a pair of white jeans in a tale that isn't worth telling, and never looked at the stuff again.

But a few years ago, New York Times writer Florence Fabricant noted that Plymouth, the gin distillery in England, was making a real sloe gin, from real sloe berries, that restored honor to the name sloe gin. I'm a big fan of Plymouth's regular gin, which makes fantastic gin and tonics and martinis. So I started searching for it.

And searching for it. And searching for it.

I probably could have gotten it in New York, but I never pay to check luggage, so I couldn't bring it back. Instead, I checked liquor stores from Charleston to West Palm Beach, whenever I was on the road. I even had friends look for it in England. They found Plymouth gin, but not sloe gin.

I had given up and decided it was a myth -- until one Saturday in February, when I was down at Frugal MacDoogal's in Fort Mill. I looked in the gin aisle, as usual, with no luck. Then I wandered over to the wall where they keep the fruit liqueurs. And look what I found, for $29.99 for a 750ml bottle.

I hurried home and had my house mixologist mix up a Sloe Gin Fizz. And I finally discovered what the drink is supposed to taste like: Fresh, fruity, just on the edge of tart. It's not fake-red, it's a slight reddish-purple. It's seriously refreshing and it screams out for a spring weekend like, well, how about this one?

Here's to you: Florence Fabricant, Don Draper and Lord Grantham.

Real Sloe Gin Fizz
From David Wondrich in Esquire. Cocktail expert Dale DeGroff suggests 1 ounce sloe gin and 1 ounce regular gin. This is a rare instance where I disagree with him: That might be necessary with fake American sloe gin. But if you have English sloe gin, why cut it?

Makes 1.

2 ounces sloe gin
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar or simple syrup
Club soda (or plain seltzer, my preference)

Combine sloe gin, lemon juice and sugar or syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour over ice in a Collins glass. Top with club soda or seltzer so it has a foamy cap. Serve immediately.

Time to toast "Mad Men"

Between the rain and the heat, our mint patch is taller than a hedge and as leggy as it usually is in late August. We've tried to keep up through diligent production of our favorite summer cocktails, mint juleps and mojitos. But it gets boring to always celebrate the end of the week with the same thing.

With the return of "Mad Men" on Sunday, I needed a new cocktail.

Enter the Southside. The recipe ran in the Observer several weeks ago, in a Chicago Tribune story on the gin trend. When I saw the ingredients, I had to try it: Mint, lime, simple syrup and gin.

One sip and I was sold. Sweet but not cloying, minty enough to be refreshing, with that tart bite of lime juice. Shaken and served very cold, it was a revelation that reminded me of the New Year's Eve long ago when we watched "Some Like It Hot" and got curious about Marilyn's drink, the Manhattan. I fell in love that time, too.

In case you missed it, here's the recipe again. Don Draper might stick with Rob Roys, but I think Betty would really like a Southside.

Southside

3 mint sprigs, divided (we use a little more)

2 ounces gin

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

3/4 ounce simple syrup (see note)

1 small dash Angostura bitters

Bruise two sprigs of mint gently in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Add ice. Shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with remaining mint sprig.

Simple syrup: Mix equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, and cook just a couple of minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Cool and store in the refrigerator.