Mike's Mix: Fika's Strawberry Ginger Collins

Every Saturday, Mike Augustyniak picks up a new cocktail recipe from a local mixologist. This week, he heads to Fika Cafe to check out their Strawberry Ginger Collins.

Strawberry Ginger Collins
1.5 oz Tanqueray dry gin
¼ oz Stirring's ginger liqueur
1 oz strawberry shrub*
¼ oz simple syrup
Club Soda

Instructions: Mix first 4 ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake. Strain into a chilled, ice-filled Collins glass. Top with club soda, and garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint.

*To make the strawberry shrub
1 lb fresh strawberries
4-5 cups sugar (more sugar for a thicker syrup)
4 cups of water
1 cup champagne vinegar (or to taste)

Instructions: wash fruit, cut off tops, then chop into small pieces, add fruit to large mixing bowl, then add sugar and stir/mash until most of the sugar is saturated. (I use a potato masher to really help release the juice from the fruit and absorb the sugar). Add 4 cups of water, add 1 cup of vinegar (or to taste), I've been using champagne vinegar and have had good results. Let sit in fridge for 48 hours. Strain solids out, once solids are strained, extract excess juice by squeezing the fruit. Recipe can be scaled up or down, based on need.

Taste Test
The quality and flavor of the cocktails at Fika will stand up against those at any craft cocktail bar around the Twin Cities. Like all Collins drinks, this one is light, crisp, and refreshing. If you have never had a 'shrub' before, it's only a matter of time. The 'shrub' is to mixology today what the infusion was 10 years ago; a trendy and tasty new way to infuse flavors into cocktails. This one will satisfy drinkers who aren't interested in cloyingly sweet flavors; almost in the same way that adding sea salt to caramel elevates turns sweet to savory.

About Fika
Hours vary by day, but include an "after work" happy hour until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.