Spring Cocktails To Wow Your Guests

If you find yourself entertaining, you can wow your guests by making restaurant-quality cocktails at home.

On The Early Show Thursday, bar managers from three top New York City restaurants owned by Danny Meyer were on hand to show how to craft their cocktail creations from his new book, "Mix Shake Stir."

Jen Sgobbo, from Gramercy Tavern, showed how to make a "Mortoni" -- a twist on the classic Negroni. Made with vodka instead of gin, it's now a Tavern favorite.

Campari, which is used in the Mortoni, is a liquor many people may not be familiar with. It's an Italian aperitif that's bright red. The liquor is low in alcohol and packed with flavor. Sgobbo said she likes mixing it with vodka, which enables its orange flavor to come through.

Sam Lipp, from Eleven Madison Park, mixed "The Madison Parksider," the restaurant's signature cocktail, inspired by springtime in Central Park.

Lipp demonstrated how to "muddle" the cucumber. Muddle is a common term in a lot of cocktail recipes, but what does a perfectly muddled fruit or herb actually look like?

Lipp says you don't have to totally pulverize the cucumber, you just want to break it up. Then, he adds, shake it with the liquor, so it will release its flavors into the liquid.

The drink can be made without alcohol. Lipp mixed in gin on the show, and said the drink is very versatile: You can mix in any spirit you like, such as vodka or tequila.

Mark Maynard-Parisi, from Blue Smoke, illustrated how to make a "Lynchburg Lemonade," a traditional Tennessee cooler.

The drink was created and popularized by the folks at Jack Daniel's, Maynard-Parisi said, but Blue Smoke ups the ante by making lemonade with fresh-squeezed lemon, water and simple syrup.

You can use store-bought lemonade, he pointed out, but this is a great example of how using fresh quality ingredients can really make your cocktail stand out, adding that it's a great party drink.

"You can mix everything up hours before the party and keep the mixture in the fridge," he said. "Whatever you do, don't add the ice until ready to serve! It will melt and dilute the flavor of the cocktail."

RECIPES

Mortoni

This refreshing drink is a twist on the classic Negroni. Made with vodka instead of gin, it was Danny Meyer's father's favorite cocktail. First offered in loving tribute to Morton Meyer, it is now a crowd-pleasing favorite at Gramercy Tavern.

Fill a rocks glass and a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka and Campari to the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass, top with the tonic water, and squeeze the juice from the lime and orange wedges and 1 of the lemon wedges into the drink. Garnish with the remaining lemon wedge and serve.

Ice
1 oz vodka, preferably Ketel One
1 oz Campari
1 oz tonic water, preferably Q Tonic
1 lime wedge
1 orange wedge
2 lemon wedges
MAKES 1 DRINK

The Madison Parksider

This signature cocktail at Eleven Madison Park was created to be great with gin, but it's equally enjoyable as a nonalcoholic refresher.

Fill a Collins glass with ice. Muddle the cucumber segments in a cocktail shaker. Squeeze in the juice from the lime half. Add ice to the shaker and then the gin and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass, top with the soda water, and serve.

Ice
6 cucumber segments, cut into 1-inch cubes, about ½ cup
1/2 lime
1 1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
4 oz soda water
MAKES 1 DRINK

Blue Smoke Lynchburg Lemonade

People know to order this traditional Tennessee cooler at Blue Smoke without even looking at the menu. Pair it with Memphis-style baby back ribs and you'll have guests asking for another round. The drink was popularized by Jack Daniel's, but this version triples the whiskey content.

Fill a cocktail shaker and a rocks glass with ice. Add the whiskey, triple sec, and lemonade to the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass, garnish with the lemon wedge, and serve.

Ice
1 1/2 oz whiskey, preferably Jack Daniel's
1/2 oz triple sec or other orange liqueur
2 oz Blue Smoke Lemonade (see below)
1 lemon wedge
MAKES 1 DRINK

Blue Smoke Lemonade: Mix 2 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 parts water and 1 part simple syrup.