DEVIL’S PLACE WHISKY BAR – ST MORITZ
World Record Whisky Collection at Waldhaus Am See
Whisky is more than just a flavored alcohol drink, for many it is a quest. The Waldhaus am See Hotel sits prominently at the edge of the lake in St Moritz, an institution in accommodation since it first opened in 1885. A century later, the hotel was acquired by Claudio Bernasconi. Aside from running a consistently highly rated hotel, Mr. Bernasconi was an avid collector of whiskys and wines. His collecting passion grew into a feature of the hotel with its whisky bar called Devil’s Place (in a town named for a saint), drawing whisky lovers from around the world to sample and savor its world record collection of Scotch single malts, Bourbons, blendeds and Irish Whiskeys.
Claudio Bernasconi’s first encounter with the flavor of whisky was as a young man in India, when rather than the questionable water, whisky was the preferred liquid for brushing his teeth. From there he developed an appreciation for the finer distinctions in whisky flavors and varieties. His personal collection grew and the idea of opening a whisky bar in his hotel came in 1995. A hotel guest had mentioned a bar in the Netherlands which had 100 different whiskys and the idea of opening the world’s most extensive whisky bar became a fixation. With the help of relatives, friends and some of his regular guests, Claudio Bernasconi’s (not to be confused with the Italian Prime Minister at whose bunga bunga parties whisky was likely consumed) whisky bar received an entry in the Guinness Book of Records in 1996, noting his 1,000 bottles of whisky. In another three years the Devil’s Place Whisky Bar was cited for its 2,500 bottles of whisky. The hotel is now managed by Claudio’s son, Sandro, but the tradition lives on.
The Whisky Bar at the Waldhaus am See is a cozy bar counter in the middle of the hotel between the reception desk and the restaurant, with its walls lined with a varied and changing selection of whisky brands. The collection at the whisky bar also includes the Waldhaus’ own labelled varieties of bottled whiskys from distillers in Scotland and Ireland. Whisky Tastings are available at any time at the Whisky Bar with 4, 5, or 6 tastings, from an hour to 90 minutes, starting at 45 CHF. Whisky and dining can be combined at the restaurant with matched courses of brand labels. Sample tasting enough whiskies at the Whiskey Bar can earn you a place on the Wall of Fame, though this will surely take a number of visits over time.
Whisky Shop
Want to take home a rare single malt? Just ask for a visit to the Whisky Shop at the Waldhaus am See. You’ll be taken down to the shop underneath the hotel. Thousands of bottles of whisky don’t all quite fit into a bar, so in the most practical use of a bomb shelter I can think of (all residential buildings in Switzerland must have one!), is as a whisky cellar.
Here in the private collection, are over 800 bottles of rare whiskys, familiar names like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Jameson, but less known outside of aficionados; Glenfarclas, GlenDronach, Cardhu, Clynelish, Glenmoragie, Glenroths, and the rarest, the Macallan collection dating back to 1878. Some of the rarest are not for sale, with the intent to maintain the collection, though occasionally an outrageous offer might be made by a Russian oligarch or oil sheik vitisting St Moritz for the ice polo.
Wine Cellar
Oh, and if whisky isn’t your drink of choice, dust off a bottle of Chateau Lafitte Rothschild in the Waldhaus Wine Cave. © Bargain Travel Europe
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