"Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a'…read morethat,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that."
Happy birthday weekend, Rabbie Burns!
And for this occasion to the best whisky locale in town did we hie our wee selves once again. Sure, you can get the standard global bottlings in most big stores in town, but when you want something different, that much more special, do consider heading to Gregor Haslinger's lovely store in the heart of Sachsenhausen. He fell in love with the beautiful amber liquid while a bartender back in his uni days, and it clearly shows in the care and details throughout the store. Not much dust on any of the many bottles! Not to mention his eagerness to answer questions or simply chat about the golden stuff. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is not only the best place in Frankfurt, but one of the top five sources of all things whisky that I've been to - both in and out of Germany.
Single malts, some special blends, literature, and a whole lot of friendly and deep knowledge you'll find ready to greet you in that warm, inviting wood interior. Sometimes it's just so nice to sit in one of the big leather armchairs and take in the presence of those twinkling bottles lined along the many shelves. Do a little twirl and you'll get a near 360° view of the stuff. Just makes me happy! There's no whisky straight out of a cask, but still, I like to think that if any of that Angels' share lark is true, then it doesn't hurt to take in a few nice deep breaths of air while absorbing the atmosphere of the store :)
Deeply involved in the whisky community and the pursuit of continued education, Gregor regularly puts on really great tasting evenings and other such events. And a special note to all fledglings, novices, and neophytes: take heed! This place is most definitely also for you! He's especially excited and happy to help us learn more about the drink, which is really more than just a drink... The store is about helping us learn about the myths, cultures, origins, traditions, and anecdotes of the whisky whys, hows, whos, wheres, whynots. If you find yourself liking (loving!!!) the stuff, maybe he can help direct you to figuring out the reasons. Or not! He can also just help you find more of what you like, in all its glorious versions and possibilities, and help you expand your taste inclinations. It all comes down to simply enjoying whisky. Take it from this *very* beginning rookie, who usually picks her potions based on how pretty the bottle shape and label packaging is... [insert sheepish grin]... Learning more about and really getting into the heart of the drink continues to be a grand little adventure.
Burns knew what he was going on about :)
~dedicated to you, JC~
