Bar Talk: Almresi

We’re heading to the Alps in Aspen for this week’s Bar Talk, and by that, I mean checking out the drinks at Almresi.

Tucked away on the corner of E. Durant Ave. and S. Monarch St., entering Almresi is like walking into a cozy, chalet-style restaurant serving up all sorts of artful and large-portioned plates of Austrian, Swiss, and German classics such as schnitzel and spätzle, käsefondue, and goulash.

But what does that mean for the bar menu?

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Of course, there are liters of classic Austrian beer to choose from, such as Stiegl and Paulaner, served in traditional mugs and ceramic steins. There are also a variety of traditional-inspired hot cocktails, such as gluhwein and jagertee, to choose from, including the Almresi specialty: the feuerzangenbowle.

A feuerzangenbowle is a traditional, German hot cocktail that provides a show and a delicious festive beverage. The drink is served in a mug and features mulled wine and a rum-soaked sugar cube that is lit on fire to get toasty before being dropped into the wine via a nifty metal contraption that sits on the edge of the mug balancing the cube.

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The mulled wine in the Almresi feuerzangenbowle is full of rich flavors of berries and spices and alone would be enjoyable after any day spent on the slopes; but when you add the toasted and caramelized notes of the rum-soaked sugar cube into the mix, it truly elevates the mulled wine.

In addition to the hot cocktails, located under the Alm Rockers section on the drinks menu, there are also classic cocktails with Austrian twists – such as Pear Williams Schnaps, Genepy des Alpes, and more – under the Aperitifs & Cocktails section of the menu.

One of those cocktails is the Black Forest Monkey, a mix of elderflower liqueur, lime, grapefruit simple syrup, and Monkey 47 Gin.

Monkey 47 is one of the best gins on the market and is handcrafted in the Black Forest of Germany. It features a complex mix of 47 botanicals that provide a balanced, non-medicinal, and smooth gin.

The Black Forest Monkey is a perfect balance of citrus, herbs, and floral flavors with a light sweetness that lingers after each sip. It’s a refreshing cocktail served up that pairs well with the unseasonably warm winter (almost spring-like) temperatures we’ve been experiencing of late in Aspen.

While we might not get a taste of the European snow-filled winter the Swiss Alps is experiencing this year, we can at least immerse ourselves in the Alpen drinks and cuisine at Almresi.

For hours and information: almresi-aspen.com