Shift Drink
Meister-approved cocktails to try for yourself
Night Spark with Livio Lauro
Created By: Livio Lauro
Recipe:
- 1.5 parts Jägermeister Cold Brew
- 1 part Teremana Blanco
- .5 part Fresh Espresso
- .5 part Simple Syrup (50:50)
Glass: Small coupe or Cordial glass
Garnish: Flamed Orange Peel Oils
Method: Pour the ingredients above into a cocktail shaker with ice ans give a hard shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a Cordial Glass (or into a stemless Martini glass) to support its “almost sophisticated” nature. Flame the essential oils of an orange peel and discard the peel itself.
Scroll Down For Some Tips & Tricks & Get to Know More About Livio.
Night Spark
Break Out Your Tools & Press Play!
Livio, what inspired the Night Spark Cocktail?
After nearly three years of the Covid Pandemic, 2022 necessitates that people live boldly again. It is no secret that if you're going to do Vegas… be bold and do it with energy. The Nightspark will inspire you to do that.
This cocktail is a riff on the Sparkplug, a shot created by former Bar owner Rick Rizzolo sometime in the 1990s and has developed a cult following for nearly three decades.
Like some Espresso Martinis, the original Sparkplug calls for Vanilla Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, and Espresso (some bartenders also add a bit of simple syrup). The difference is that the Sparkplug the Espresso Martini's more practical little brother as it is served as a shot and helps keep one's energy up "on the go" in a city where energy is a must.
While the Sparkplug is served in many bars in Las Vegas, you will not find it listed on many (if any) menus, but fans of this late-night pick-me-up know exactly where to find it.
What inspired my revision to this drink was America's love for herbal liqueurs made my first decision on how to riff this "Las Vegas Classic" by putting Jägermeister Cold Brew in the drink to give it some delicious herbal, anise, and licorice notes, this is definitely a nice little flavor boost. Next… Several Las Vegas bars have seen increased customer requests for Tequila drinks, so the second decision was easy too; I added Teremana Blanco to take advantage of its vanilla and peppery spice.
Adding these two ingredients required me to change the portions a bit, so that's when I added fresh espresso and simple syrup to sweeten the drink slightly; it came out delicious.
Get To Know Livio
Livio Lauro is the Director of Mixology Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits in Las Vegas (SGWS). Since 2001, Livio has worked alongside the foremost distillers and hospitality groups in Las Vegas and beyond, helping them put together successful and profitable initiatives.
Livio is widely recognized as one of the most instrumental figures in the resurgence of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and served as National President from 2004 to 2010.
Livio owns some 1000 vintage and modern books on mixology, hospitality, alcoholic beverages and is deeply passionate about his research on these topics. His seminars are routinely featured at major beverage trade shows and are recognized as being both innovative and trendsetting.
He hosts a weekly show on Youtube called Master Your Glass and is the co-author of “The 12 Cocktails Everybody Needs To Know” and “The Beverage Engineer.”
Livio's Tips & Tricks
One of my favorite ways to spruce up Espresso drinks lately is to replace the “fresh espresso + simple syrup” combination with two heaping bar spoons of homemade espresso crema. The espresso crema gives the drink an extra pop and a nice fluffy texture.
To make the crema, I take a coffee mug and add one tablespoon of granulated sugar for each cocktail I am making. Then I pour roughly one teaspoon of espresso (the first few drops that come out of your espresso maker are the best) over that sugar. Then I start whisking, and it turns into foam.
To incorporate the espresso crema in the Nightspark, simply add 2 bar spoons in lieu of the fresh espresso and the simple syrup.
