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Culture Feature
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Hiking Switzerland’s Whisky Mountain Trail
FROM SOURCE TO SUMMIT: SWITZERLAND’S WHISKY TRAIL
When thinking of whisky and rugged mountainous terrain, Scotland is what normally first comes to mind. One distillery in Switzerland, however, is looking to change that perspective. TEXT & PHOTOS: DANIEL COLE
In the mountainous Appenzell district of Switzerland, just 30 kilometres south of Lake Constance, is a whisky hiking trail that winds and weaves its way through scenic Alpine terrain. It’s here in the foothills of the Alpstein mountain range, where Karl Locher has been distilling a mix of whisky blends to be sold in the mountain huts above. For hikers who love their whisky, it has created a unique opportunity to sample one-off blends while trekking from one summit to the next. Locher’s family business has been responsible for brewing the local Appenzeller Beer for well 32 |
Issue 97 |
September 2022
over a hundred years, but it wasn’t until 1997 that they turned their hands to whisky after the Swiss government changed their laws surrounding the distillation of spirits. Säntis Malt Whisky, named after the highest peak in the Alpstein range, is made using the fresh spring water on its doorstep, and is a rare breed in the whisky world, distilled in old beer barrels, thus giving it a smooth, cured flavour. One particular mountain hut proprietor took to the whisky so much, he wanted his own blend to sell as a treat for the weary hikers who completed the epic trek to his estab-
lishment. “Sepp Manser, owner of mountain restaurant Meglisalp, was a big Säntis Malt fan from the beginning and wanted his very own whisky barrel,” explains Locher’s sales manager Kuno Mock. After the success of introducing a unique blend to the mountain market, Manser and Locher started to think about how they could take things to the next level. They decided to create 26 unique blends – one for each and every hut. Each whisky is not only differentiated though its flavour, aroma and colour, but the varying altitudes and temperatures at which the casks are stored, also provide the blends with their own individual characters. In 2015, the Appenzell Whisky Trek was launched, connecting the 26 mountain huts with a unique whisky tasting experience. The