Mad Men’s Smoke and Mirrors: Jon Hamm’s Onion Water and Herbal ‘Cigs’ Exposed
Here’s the sizzling scoop straight from the Sterling Cooper set: Jon Hamm and his Mad Men co-stars never actually lit up or swigged whiskey onscreen—they sipped onion water and puffed herbal “cigarettes” instead. In a recent sit-down, Hamm confessed to BuzzFeed’s Ellen Durney that every plume of smoke and every clink of glass was carefully choreographed illusion, all in service of that perfectly vintage aesthetic (BuzzFeed, 2022).
Hamm revealed that the production team swapped real tobacco for a nicotine-free herbal blend sourced from prop masters, ensuring the cast could “smoke” take after take without choking. Between scenes, this faux tobacco was doused in onion-infused water to mimic the acrid tang of real cigarettes. As Hamm quipped to People Magazine in 2023, “It smells like french fries gone bad in a novelty store,” underscoring the lengths the crew went to preserve actor health while delivering seamless storytelling (People, 2023).
Behind the bar, the so-called bourbon was nothing more than water, food coloring, and a dash of oil to catch the light—yet viewers believed they were witnessing the self-destructive descent of Don Draper’s drinking. Crew members would swirl the concoction, snap close-up shots, then swap glasses with clean replicas for quicker resets. Hamm laughed off those endless retakes: “We practically became sommeliers of fake booze.”
Insiders from the Screen Actors Guild have confirmed that these subterfuges paved the way for stricter on-set safety measures, protecting cast and crew from secondhand smoke risks. Meanwhile, costume and prop departments received SAG Awards nods for innovative design, proving that even “extras” like herbal smokes can steal the spotlight (SAG-AFTRA Bulletin, 2022).
This onion-water trick didn’t just trick viewers—it became part of Mad Men folklore, earning behind-the-scenes flair all its own. Who could forget the moment Hamm, in character, leaned back in a plush leather chair, exhaling stage-craft smoke as if baring his soul? Now, every on-screen exhale carries the secret history of cough drops and seasoning packets.
As streaming services continue to binge-watch Mad Men’s sleek visuals, the legacy of these pseudo-smokes and mock-spirits lingers. Will future period dramas up the ante with even stranger stand-ins? One thing’s clear: next time you see Don Draper light up, you’ll know exactly what’s smoldering beneath the glamour.
And so, the illusion endures—but the thirst for on-set alchemy is only just beginning.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and BuzzFeed (Ellen Durney), People Magazine, SAG-AFTRA Bulletin
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
