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Mike's Mix: Scena Tavern's Northern Star Hot Toddy

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Every Saturday, Mike Augustyniak goes in search of a new cocktail flavor from one of Minnesota's best or most innovative bars. This week, he's heading to Scena Tavern in Uptown to try a warm drink for a long winter's night.

Ingredients

1.5 oz. The Famous Grouse blended scotch whisky
0.5 oz. ginger syrup (see below)
0.25 oz. fresh lemon juice
5 oz. The Famous Mint Tea by Owl's Brew
2 dashes Bittercube Jamaican #1 bitters
Garnish: Mint leaf, star anise and lemon peel

Instructions

Boil water and bring to a simmer. Place The Famous Grouse, Ginger Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice and Bitters in a large tin, add simmering water to a smaller tin, placing the larger tin on top of the smaller tin, creating a poor man's "bain marie." Add remaining simmering water to mug to preheat glass.

Heat the Owl's Brew tea on the stove and bring to 180 degrees, then add to rest of cocktail "bain marie" and stir together. Remove water from mug, pour contents from "bain marie" into a mug, garnish with mint leaf, star anise and lemon peel and serve.

* For ginger syrup: Cut unpeeled raw ginger into small pieces and boil to form ginger tea (use a tea ball; or, have a way to strain out the ginger pieces when you're done). Add granulated sugar to the tea in a 1-to-1 ratio, stirring until it dissolves, to make ginger simple syrup.

Taste Test

The Famous Grouse is a moderately peaty blended Scotch whisky; mild in flavor, overall. Combined with the mint tea, mint, and lemon garnish, it results in a light hot toddy with a citrus flavor that really brightens a cold, dark day.

About Scena Tavern

Scena Tavern opened under the Walkway Residences in Uptown Minneapolis in December. Their food and drink menu has an Italian influence; you'll find 150 gins at the bar, as well as a global whisky program (including Scotch and Japanese whisky). The Northern Star hot toddy isn't on the menu, but if you ask for it, they'll make it for you!

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