October 2005
High Spirits
Join us for a MUNICH FOUND whisky night
You may know your Augustiner from your Löwenbräu—but how many Munich residents can tell their Glenfiddich from their Highland Park? For those of us from the British Isles, it’s sometimes a tad embarrassing that, while we may be well-versed in beer and wine, our native tipple is still somewhat of a mystery, particularly as the drink is now enjoying somewhat of a comeback on the “what it’s cool to be seen drinking” scene. Well now’s your chance to get a taste of home (literally) with a Munich Found whisky-tasting event. Under the expert eye of whisky whiz Stefan Berndt, who’s lectured on the drink at the American bartender school in Munich, among other places, you and other Munich Found readers could be treated to a comprehensive tasting session. The event is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs—as well as giving a basic overview of the five classic Scottish whisky regions, Berndt will be giving us the chance to sample some of the country’s more exclusive malts.
“The point of whisky tasting is not so much to come across as if you know your stuff when you talk about the drink,” he says. “It’s more to do with finding the malt for you. A lot of people don’t touch whisky, because they had a few too many glasses when they were about 18 and it’s put them off for life. Yet, if you learn to spot the differences between them and appreciate the individual styles—which is surprisingly easy to do in comparison to something like wine—you’ll soon find one you like. There really is a malt for everyone.”
As if the prospect of finding your perfect after-dinner tipple were not enough of a draw, a good understanding of whisky could also be the key to no more pension worries. “My whisky collection is my retirement fund,” says Berndt, in all seriousness. “I’ve got bottles that are worth a lot more now than when I bought them. It’s not rocket science—it’s just a matter of knowing what’s going to increase in value. And it’s far easier to predict than with wine.” He’s not alone—some ten years ago Schumann’s bar man Stefan Gabanyi bought a bottle for DM 40, which, today, is worth € 200.
While we can’t guarantee your future fortune, Munich Found can promise an entertaining and informative evening, with great drinks, food and company. The tasting will take place on November 26 at 8 pm, in The Victorian House (Frauenstrasse 14). Tickets cost € 40 per person and include six whiskies and your choice of pie with mash. To book, send an e-mail to
info@munichfound.com or fax 089 480 88 717, stating the number of places you require, your name, address, phone number and bank details. For further information, call: Tel. 089 480 88 70.
And once you’ve discovered your personal favorite, here are the best places to drink it:
Islay (Thierschstrasse 14, Tel. 29 16 37 00)
Named after a tiny island off the coast of Scotland, this bar / restaurant stocks examples of the malts from all seven of Islay’s distilleries, as well as around 150 others. Staff are happy to advise and help you decide which to try first.
Klenze 17 (Klenzestrasse 17, Tel. 228 57 95)
A surprising one this. Whereas most whisky bars have that dark wood, leather armchair look, Klenze 17 is more of a grungy student bar, but with an astonishing selection of malts at very reasonable prices. For between € 5 and € 11 a glass, sample whiskies dating back to 1976—the full list can be viewed online at
www.klenze17.de. Living proof of whisky’s reemergence as a popular drink for the younger crowd.
Königsquelle (Baaderplatz 2, Tel. 22 00 71)
If you don’t like the thought of whisky on an empty stomach, Königsquelle’s the place to go. Not only is the Austrian chef renowned for his schnitzels, but the bar owner is a passionate whisky fan. With more than 120 different varieties on offer, the sight of the bar alone will make a whisky lover drool.
Bistro 204 (Leopoldstrasse 204, Tel. 361 30 79)
Principally a sports bar, this spot has a good selection, particularly of older malts.
And, of course, don’t miss the Irish bars.
Ryan’s Muddy Boot (Schlörstrasse 10, Tel. 12 73 73 53) and
Molly Malone’s (Kellerstrasse 21, Tel. 688 75 10) have great selections of malts. Ryan’s also runs a whisky night on Fridays, with a number of special offers.
