Although this is only his first season behind the bar, German born Björn Birke feels right at home at the luxurious Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Austria.
Having just taken over for Ewald Gurber, who had been at the hotel for 25 years, Björn is über-enthusiatic and raring to go, ready to take on the challenge of filling such illustrious boots. Working side by side with Ewald through the winter season, Björn befriended the locals and wowed the commanding crowd.
This summer season is his first as sole bartender and he is already making his mark. He scrapped the old cocktail menu and created a brand new one for the hotel’s 500th birthday. He even changed up all the barware, some of which he found in the hotel’s basement.
Determined to keep it local, the cocktails were conceived by using local ingredients and modern technique, including the hotel’s award-winning beer, Tyrolean raspberry schnapps, Austrian wines, and the Kloster’s own barrel-aged Negroni.
Here he is mixing up three new creations:
FYI: Don’t be confused! This video is branded with my old logo, Best Sips Worldwide. Just ignore it and watch the amazing cocktail making 😉
True to form, he is already preparing the winter season cocktails with hints of blood orange & cinnamon. Time to return!
Hotel & Spa Klosterbräu, Klosterstrasse 30, 6100 Seefeld, Tirol, Austria
NB: I was the guest of Hotel & Spa Klosterbräu and Seefeld Tourism. It was absolutely perfect and I can’t thank them enough for inviting me.