Parkside Fizz ~ Friday's 5 o'clock Wet Your Whistle Call!

Not only does this cocktail take you back to a bygone era, the story behind how you get one of these tasty libations holds even more mystery. Created by Jim Meehan of PDT (Please Don’t Tell) in New York’s East Village for a Belvedere Vodka cocktail contest, the cocktail story opens the “door” to a New York Speakeasy reminiscent of the 1920’s. If you’re in the City make sure you get a reservation to this nostalgic cocktail joint.  You will get instructions to enter a hot dog joint, Crif Dogs, with the best sign ever- a giant hot dog with "eat me" written in mustard on the dog. I hear the dogs are great too!

You walk into the small hot dog eatery and enter a phone booth on the side wall. Once you pick up the receiver, a lovely voice says "may I help you?" State your reservation and with a sensual reply of "thank you", the inside wall of the phone booth opens and you are transported to another place of another era.

But if you can’t bop on over to New York this weekend, mix up this lemony cocktail and drink it in a not so usual place in your home…..

Parkside Fizz

Ingredients:

6 large mint sprigs

5 tablespoons orgeat syrup (almond; such as Monin)

1 1/2cups citrus vodka (Hangar One Buddha's Hand Citron or Absolut Citron)

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups club soda

Preparation:

Strip bottom leaves off mint sprigs, leaving 4–5 leaves on top. Trim sprigs, leaving about a 2" stem attached to leaves; reserve for garnish. Place leaves in a medium pitcher.

Add orgeat to pitcher. Using a muddler, gently mash mint leaves (do not tear). Add vodka and let steep for 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Strain and return to pitcher.

Fill 3 Old Fashioned glasses with ice cubes. Pour half of mixture into a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice; shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into prepared glasses. Top each with 1/4 cup club soda. Discard ice in shaker and repeat to make 3 more cocktails. Place 1 reserved mint sprig between palms and clap to release aroma; garnish 1 cocktail. Repeat with remaining mint sprigs. Serve with straws.

Make it a mocktail: Omit the vodka, double the orgeat, and triple the soda.