What makes a cocktail connoisseur? Just ask Michel Braun, owner and head barman at Schloss Neuschweinsteiger in the deeps of Neukölln. Since opening up five years ago the self-taught barkeeper has made his bar his baby, inspired by London speakeasies and new-wave mixology. Here, classic drinks are meticulously prepared, while others boast true inventive quality. Take the classic El Presidente, switched up with Don Papa rum from the Philippines, dry vermouth, a swish of orange Curaçao, grenadine, and orange peel, alongside a cheeky spoonful of caramel. Indulgent and irresistible, but also spirited. If you ask for a Negroni you will get one. If you ask for an Old Fashioned – expect no less than the original. The bar’s ambiance is sophisticated without being too dressed up; the music never too loud to steal attention away from the drinks. In the next few weeks Michel is testing barrel-aged cocktails infused with charred wood, such as his twist on the Manhattan. Classic or novel, often it’s surprising how well the two worlds combine. (Text: Victoria Pease)
Schloss Neuschweinsteiger, Emserstr.122-123, 12051 Berlin-Neukölln; map
Mon-Sun 19-3h
