Lebensstern Bar in Berlin
Lebensstern Bar
(Article written by Javier Herrera, “Got Rum?” Correspondent)
We learned about this fabulous bar during the Berlin Rum Festival, thanks to a friend’s advice. He insisted we should not leave Berlin without visiting this place. So we asked a taxi driver to take us there. We were exhausted after a long day at the festival, tasting rums and talking to a multitude of people. The bar is located in the upper floor of a lovely house, the bottom floor is Einstein Restaurant.
After having dinner at the restaurant, we went upstairs and asked for Peter Kowallczyk, proprietor of the bar. He showed us his museum of distilled beverages in general, but of rum in particular. There were more than 600 bottles of rum, and they were not empty! Patrons can ask for any rum they want from this selection, this was new to me, since I ’ve been to places with large displays of empty rum bottles, but they only serve a handful of them to customers. The place is spectacular, filled with inviting sofas where one can relax, plus smoking is allowed (I don’t smoke so I didn’t take advantage of this).
Peter showed us his entire rum collection, including some very rare antiquities; most people have only heard of or seen in photographs. He then asked us which rum we wanted to try and we let him chose for us. Peter chose Rhum Agricole Trois Rivieres 1997, which turned out to be an excellent choice, very fitting given the surroundings. We sat down on the sofas while waiting for our waiter to bring us the rhum- filled snifters. We were pleasantly surprised by the waiter’s command of English and his knowledge of the rhum we were about to enjoy. This speaks volumes about the level of professionalism of this bar.
Immersed in the great atmosphere and through the smoke from some Montecristo cigars I conducted this brief interview with Peter.
All serious rum aficionados who happen to pass through Berlin have the moral obligation to visit this temple to rum.
Q: How long has the bar been in operat ion?
The Bar Lebensstern opened on December 2006, above the Café Einstein Stammhaus, a Vienna style Coffeehouse that opened in 1978.
Q: What has been the reaction among Berliners to the bar and its rum selection?
The bar has a very diverse clientèle, including guests from the Einstein who enjoy a drink before or after dinner, regular guests from Berlin as well as international visitors.
Q: Can you tell us about the special sessions hosted at your bar with beverage experts?
We have master distillers from all around the world (mostly rum and whisky) several times per year who present their product. Especially for people who love spirits it is a great experience to gain first hand inside into the process how spirits are distilled, aged and refined. These events are always combined with a tasting, sometimes even with special editions that are not available on the market.
Q: Please tell us about your rum select ion.
With over 600 different kinds of rum that are served by the glass the Lebensstern has one of the biggest rum selections worldwide. At the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans we got the award for “World’s best drinks selection.” Rumis the most drunken spirit at the Lebensstern. As a nice cocktail as well as straight, for example accompanied by a nice Cuban cigar.
Q: Tell us a little about the history of the pub and its name?
The Lebensstern opened in 2006. It was designed by Peter Kowalczyk, an accomplished bartender and head of operations of the Café Einstein Stammhaus. The family of the current owner of the Café Einstein as well as the Lebensstern, Philipp Hasse-Pratje, used to produce cigars for over 100 years, the name “Lebensstern” used to be the brand for a line of cigars. As cocktails and drinks are something to enjoy, as are cigars the name was chosen to “continue” the family tradition to create something that makes life more enjoyable.