Liquor in Switzerland
 

My hubby wants to know the availability of any Canadian Bourbon in both restaurants and stores. What about american beer? or is it all swiss/german beer? I may occasionally drink Amaretto or a Reisling white wine. Can I get those?

Thanks!

Can't really comment on the Canadian bourbon issue. In general, in larger cities and towns (Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne) you will find some American beers and beers like Corona, mostly in bars versus restaurants, but in small mountain villages it is unlikely that you will find them, however in touristy places like Interlaken you probably will. In grocery stores in larger towns you will find some American beers. However, virtually every canton and even parts of each canon on the German side has its own beer and you should really try them, and in summer there is Weiss beer (white beer) which is very refreshing, again you should try that. You should be able to find Amaretto and Rieslings easily (the latter may not be a true German Riesling, but may be a sweet white Swiss wine).

If the bourbon is really important to him, he may want to bring a bottle with im just in case he can't locate it, it will also be more expensive if he bought it in a liquor store in Switzerland. He can bring in one litre duty free to Switzerland.

I agree--the wines in Switzerland are wonderful. You should try anything from Valais and a nice light beer is Cardinale--with lemon, of course

Cicerone - thanks for the info. Hubby will be so happy that he can get some american beers. I know he'll try some of the local beers but, just in case, it's good to know he has a possible option. The bourbon issue - can he bring a flask into a restaurant? Just in case they don't have it. That's where he's going to miss it the most. Because he is bringing some with us for the Cottage.

Rat-the-cat77 - I don't drink much wine (hence, the very sweet wine) but I will have to try some local wines.

Now I'm more worried about what I will be drinking. If they don't like to give "tap" water, I may be in real trouble. They already are not going to have Diet Dr. Pepper (my staple drink :>) ). I have started drinking "Wylers" Drink mix (D.Dr.P is getting too expensive). So if I can get tap water, I can add the drink mix and be set. However, if I can't get tap water, how is that going to taste with mineral water? Guess we'll figure that out when we get there.

lol at Corona being available, it's a Mexican beer, not American. As for the OP, Bud is available pretty much worldwide, other American beers can be found, but less commonly. Not sure about the Canadian bourbon or the Amaretto (but Amaretto is Italian originally, so it'll probably be available, at least in stores), Riesling will almost certainly be available, at least in grocery stores, and likely they'll have some sort of sweet white wine in restauraunts that is pretty similar (if you want sweet Riesling, make sure you ask for it ("Suss"), because the Germans at least do like dry ("trocken") and semi-sweet ("halb-trocken") Riesling).

Bud is available in Ireland, but it's not imported. It's brewed there, and it was awful!!

Bring a bottle of your own Canadian Bourbon with you. Pick one up at the Duty Free shop prior to your departure. ((b))

grsing - that's what my hubby said :>) What about Coors or Coors light? Thanks for the tip on "suss", vs. "trocken" and "halb-trocken". Can't do either of those!!

budman - "Duty Free Shop" prior to departure. Do you mean departure from the states? How much would a liter be in Switzerland? or at the duty free shop? and where is the duty free shop (states or switzerland)?

There's duty free in the departure lounge in the States. You just need to show your ticket. I would assume you could get duty free at a Canada airport departing for Europe.

There's one in Zurich, but you can only use it when you are flying back to the States or Canada, so that wouldn't help you out. ((b))

Switzerland is one country that apparently has legalized absinthe and an absinthe production area near the French border and the Jura i think has an absinthe official classification much like the French D.O.C.
So if looking for a different buzz try absinthe.

Not sure about Coors or Coors Light, but I haven't seen it anywhere in Europe I've been, though I haven't exactly been looking (though I am sure it isn't available at the Sainsbury's near me in the UK, can't really extrapolate for sure from that).

JN - Thanks for the links and the help, I'll check it out. I hope we've found a cool place to stay. It's really rustic but, that's okay the views will more than make up for it.

suze - your "point to point" comment is about what we've decided. Do you know when they have the local markets. I've seen some on weekends and some are on like Tues and/or Thurs. Both the tues/thurs ones really won't be of much help since we'll be there from Sat. to Sat. But, I still may pick up a quick snack at one. Where do they hold them in Lucerne? Do you know?

Luggage upstairs may be a problem :>).

victoria_reynolds - thanks for the link. I'll check it out too.

Thank you all for your great help. I will check this site one last time for the response to my questions in this post. Then I probably won't be back to this site for a while. I'm not only trying to plan this trip but . . we are taking a weekend trip next weekend, we're trying to sell our house and build a house. So I need to spend some time doing some work around here. I've been on the internet for about 2 weeks trying to plan this trip. Now that I have my accomodations figured out and I have found a flight, the rest can wait a bit.

Thanks again for your help - whitneykt

OOPPSSS!!!! :>

I was reading the replies to my post "liquor in Switzerland" and replied to it with the reply to my other post here by mistake.

So, if you want to know what the h@@l I'm talking about - go to "Zurich to Lucerne train with luggage" and maybe the above post will make more sense.

Sorry - can you see I'm a little "frazzled"? :>

I had someone reply to one of my other posts with a great site for Migros. They sell just about everything - liquor, beer, food, gardening, clothing, jewelry, perfume, etc.

Some of you may already know about them but, for those of us who don't you may want to check it out. If you are staying somewhere in Switzerland with a kitchen, it would be of great help to you.

www.le-shop.ch

Whitney,

I've been following your posts with a bit of frustration. I'm glad you chose Switzerland and you'll love Merlischachen. But remember, you are in Switzerland. Be daring and try our products. Most Americans actually prefer the Swiss beer over the US beer. And as for liquor, try the Cafe Schnapps (apple/pear brandy), Cafe Zwetschgen (prune brandy) or Cafe Kirsch (cherry brandy). They are great coffees.

Migros does not sale liquor. However, there's a Getranke shop in Merlischachen that sales almost every kind of drink you can find. Please go there for your Canadian Bourbon needs. However, you won't find Wyler's.

Tap water: you can get it in the restaurants but nowaday you have to pay for it in many places. Go ahead and ask for it but remember it might not be for free.

You have chose a stunning place in Switzerland to be at. Don't ruin it by running all around trying to find drink and food brands you know. You're in Europe for the adventure. Live it!

P.S. Do try the Bratwurst. It's very good.

As Schuler said:

> I've been following your posts with a bit of frustration.

I must say I have a similar sentiment. Maybe you have your reasons for this though. Still you will try local drinks at least a bit, won't you?

Migros has been (the biggest)supermarket chain that does not sell alcoholic drinks so far. Sometimes, middle to big size Migros shops have a liquor store as a tenant by the entrance though.

I bought Coors last year at a Coop store in the city. They also have those funny fruit flavored beer made in Belgium, with peach, apple, rapsberry. Maybe for ladies?

In case nobody answered (sorry I have not read all the replies), usually you cannot bring your own bottles at restaurants. I thought it was universdal bus since you asked, being curious, do you do that in America (you are American, aren't you?)?

I am a Canadian living in Luzern and I haven't seen any Canadian Bourbon. Unlikely, they will don't allow a flask in the restaurants either. You do see Canadian wiskey here regularly. Crown Royal is in most shops selling liquor but I think it is about 40CHF for 750ml. Canadian Club is available in many restaurants. Amareto is widely available in drink shops for about 20CHF for 750ml bottle

Not much chance of finding Bud or Coors either. Can't recall actually ever seeing either on sale in Switzerland and I am a Beer guy.

It sounds like you may be passing through the train station in Luzern quite a bit. If so, in the shopping area on the floor below the platforms there is a Drinks of the World store. It has Dr. Pepper(but no diet I believe) and has some American Beers (no Bud or Coors but more smaller American breweries like Sam Adams, Brooklyn, and Anchor). The store also carries hard stuff and a few wines. The drinks at that store are pretty expensive though. You are paying a pretty hefty premium for location and importing the stuff. But if you really need some of your drinks from back home...

Luzern does have its own local brewery. It is called Eichhof and while I don't find much of their product particularly interesting, the one I drink is called Klosterbrau. You may suggest your husband tries that.

Also suggest your husband tries the Weissen/Weizen beer like Cicerone mentioned. Usually a bit more expensive as it generally is imported from Germany but I really like that style personally.

WK
One piece of advice we've always traveled by is that Half the fun of going to another country is NOT eating the same foods or drinking the same beverages you find in your home country.

Tell your husband to not sweat the canadian whiskey and certainly not the coors light. German/swiss beers offer lighter varieties (Helles) as well as the stronger/darker types. Almost all are so much tastier than Coors Light that it isn't even close. Take a risk, try some out and come back a euro beer connoisseur! Avoid the McD's and pizza places, try the Geschneltes, Roesti, fondue, Raclette, wurstsalads, schnitzels and the like and come home with a newly discovered appreciation of wonderfully prepared foods, with high quality ingredients and different spicing. You've got the rest of your days for the stuff back home.

OK, sermon over. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

schuler, kappa, adwinn & jn -

Thank you for your "surmons" :> I'm sorry that I've given everyone the wrong impression. Yes we are American. However, I am part German (grandmother - german and grandfather - swiss, hence our trip to Switzerland) although I've never lived there.

That's our idea of taking this trip is to experience the flavors of the country. We want to find the restaurants that serve the more traditional foods than the ones that serve the American foods.

The reason for the liquor and food questions is - just in case we don't like the food/drink we have an option. Plus, when we are back at our Cottage, we'd like our comforts of home and we know how to cook steak or sausage. :>

schuler - Hubby won't drink anything sweet. I guess that website was stuff only to be purchased on-line. He plans to bring his own bourbon and I will bring the Wylers. I'm not cracked about Bratwurst but hubby likes it. I will try it there tho - maybe it's different than what we have.

Kappa - I knew it was a stupid question to ask if you bring a flask into a restaurant. And, no we can't do it here either. But, then again our hotels don't have twin beds and duvets either. So who knew? :>

adwinn - Hubby will be happy if the restaurants sell Canadian Club or Crown. That's what he drinks. YEA - Dr. Pepper!!!!! That's what I used to drink but, cut back to diet. I lost 20 lbs just by doing that. Thanks for the train station tip.

jn - That is one place I DON'T plan on eating at is McD's or a pizza joint. Nor are we going to try any Italian, Mexican or Oriental. I'm excited to try the Roesti and the spaetzel. Roesti sounds like what my family calls "potato pancakes" (only we don't do the toppings) and we have spaetzel at every holiday.

I hope I've eased everyones mind, we aren't that picky - just checking availability if needed. :>

Thanks again for all your replies. And yes - we plan to go and have a great time there. I CAN't WAIT!!!!! Sept. is never going to get here. :>

No need to apologize, even if you are apicky eater. If people can put up with my: 1) spelling (Geschnetzeltes, not whatever else I typed) 2) opinions that may be off-base, and 3) giving four suggestions when saying I'd give a couple, I ought to treat people with different food/drink tastes with respect. Sorry if the sermon crossed the line.

jn - no you didn't cross the line. Just commenting on others. It's true - we all have different tastes, likes/dislikes. So when you travel to a different country for the very first time, you just want to be prepared. I appreciate all comments - that's how I learn. Thanks to all - no matter what you say or how you tease me on my spelling. :>

Just as a point of interest, there's no such thing as Canadian Bourbon. Such whiskies as Canadian Club and Crown Royal are properly called "Canadian Whisky", but in Canada are universally known as "rye", even though they are made from a mixture of rye, corn and barley. Bourbon whiskey is made predominantly from corn, although it also has a mixture of other grains.

Bourbon whiskey and Canadian whisky (note the difference is spelling) are quite distinctive in taste from each other.

Plus the fact that Bourbon is almost entirely made in what used to be a single county in Kentucky (not quite a legal distinction, like Champagne or something, but traditional), and is definitely an American drink. Not knocking Canadian whisky (or Scotch or Irish whiskey or whatever), just differences.

Schuler
"I've been following your posts with a bit of frustration. I'm glad you chose Switzerland and you'll love Merlischachen. But remember, you are in Switzerland. Be daring and try our products. Most Americans actually prefer the Swiss beer over the US beer. And as for liquor, try the Cafe Schnapps (apple/pear brandy), Cafe Zwetschgen (prune brandy) or Cafe Kirsch (cherry brandy). They are great coffees."

You have missed the best cafe from Lucern - Cafe Trash. I've never found Trash except in Lucern. It's a terrible taste but it's cheap. Certainly it's cheaper than a beer. Good drink for cold days.

Blackduff

laverendrye: I'm with you. I think I know what Bourbon tastes like -- though it's one of the few tipples I eschew -- and I have never tasted anything remotely like it among Canadian rye whiskies.

Whitney: Can you give us a brand name, as a guide?

While delicious, you might want to avoid the fondue, rachlette and roesti in June and July unless you want to really scream out that you are a tourist...it would be like ordering turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings in August in the US. Unless you are in the mountains on a cold/rainy summer day, this food is really not eaten in Switzerland after about mid-May and then again not until October unless you are a tourist...it is winter food. Most restaurants don't even serve it in these months unless they cater to tourists. Stick with the great summer vegetables that will be on offer, of course bratwurst goes all the time, try it for breakfast with your beer!!

McDonalds by the way is very expensive, so you are good to avoid it. Go in and take a look at the prices just to get a shock. It will be crowded with locals anyway, so you don't want to waste time waiting in line for the fries that cost a fortune in any case....

WOW!!! I didn't realize that I was opening up such a "can of worms"!!!!

laverendrye - I stand corrected. You are correct, what I'm calling Canadian Bourbon is actually Canadian Whisky (I looked on hubby's bottle :>).

blackduff - I'm not sure I'd want to drink anything called "trash". :>

tedgale - Canadian Club is what hubby orders in restaurants and then Crown Royal if they don't have CC. However, the cheaper brand that he drinks at home is called "LTD". Aren't "rye whiskies" Scotch? If so, he can't stand scotch.

cicerone - Are you serious!!!!????? I'm so disappointed!! We will actually be there the last week of September. Is that close enough to October that we'll be able to get some fondue, rachlette and roesti? I sure hope so - or I just may have to look like a tourist and order it anyway. :> Where would a touristy place be that would serve it? That's a good idea - check out McD's for the price shock.

whitneykt
This is called "Trash" because it's made from all of the leftover fruits. As an example, there's not a bunch of cheeries but it's worth cookin it to the pot. Maybe some apples are around too. Sometimes the plums would go into the pot too. So, each batch they come out a bit different.

The traditional method of preparing a Coffee Trash it starts with a whiskey sour glass. Put a half-franc coin into the glass. Pour coffee over the coin until it's dissapeared. Then pour "Trash" over the coin until it becomes visible. Top this up with a bit of steam from the coffee machine.

This is coffee is also in the same way with the other liquors.

This is a great drink for a cold rainy Swiss afternoon. It will give you a smile.

Blackduff

Well - that sounds different. May have to try it.

laverendrye - glad to hear your explanation. I didn't know what Canadian Bourbon was from the OP, and being Canadian, I was wondering if I should have!!

Cicerone is correct in that most widely known traditional Swiss dishes are acutally winter dishes. As for tourist places where you can can it in September. In Luzern, there are a group of restaurants along the river near the wooden bridge where I often see people with Fondue and cameras on their table in the summer.

That area is quite scenic with the wooden bridge, water tower, river and mountain view, hence lots of tourists, hence restaurants catering to them.

In my experience, we have gone to restaurants with visiting guests during the summer and asked them if they could make the trad winter meals even though it may not be on the menu. They haven't yet said No.

I agree that any of those tourist restaurants along the river in Lucerne will most likely offer fondue and raclette at any time of year.

But whitneykit, as you are renting a house, you can save yourself some embarssment and MAKE YOUR OWN fondue, roesti and possibly raclette. Fondue is a cinch and if the house comes with a raclette maker, that is even easier. For fondue you just need equal parts Emmenthaler and Gruyere cheese (about 250 grams each grated), about one cup white wine, 3 tablespoons Kirsch. Rub the pot with garlic, put in the wine and kirsch, let it simmer, slowly add in the cheese to let it melt. and voila! dinner is ready. Some people add 2-3 tbl of flour or cornstarch with the liquid as well to thicken. Bread or boiled new potatoes are for dipping.

If the house comes with a raclette maker, then you just buy raclette cheese, slice it and melt it in the machine (it can get hot doing this, another reason this is a winter food). Boiled potatoes and thinly sliced meats like prosciutto, parma ham or dried beef, I also make a kind of grilled cheese with it.

For roesti, you can cheat very easily and buy pre-cut pre-made roesti in foil packages at Mirgro and Coop. It is very very good, cook it up with a fried egg and have a little heart attack on a plate. Dr Atkins would love Switzerland, all the meat and cheese you can eat.

Do your self a favor when you go to Migros or Coop and buy a REAL fondue pot, not one of those little crappy metal ones. The real ones are ceramic and are large, they are as wide at the top as at the bottom (not like the metal ones that are narrower at the top). At most Migros and Coop grocery stores you can buy these with stands and sterno burners for like US$15 (don't buy them in souvenir shops like Schweizer Heimatwerk where they cost a fortune even if they do have those cute little cows on them). Bring it back to the US with you and you will always have the right pot for fondue. I have bought numerous ones back as gifts over the years.

The best chocolate fondue in the world (although Swiss people really don't eat it, you will not see this on restaurant menus unless you really are on a tour bus tour) is to melt 3 medium Toblerone bars with a cup of Baileys or just plain light cream or half and half (the Baileys version is better). Dip in fruit or pound cake. This is unbelievably good and easy.

Oh Cicerone,
My mouth is watering!

whitneykt: A little more about whiskies. Scotch whisky is definitely not "rye". Malt Scotch whisky is made from malted barley, and blended Scotch (brands such as Teachers, J&B, Dewar's etc) is a blend of malt whisky and grain whisky (mostly wheat and corn).

LTD is a Canadian whisky, made by McGuinness (part of the same conglomerate that makes Canadian Club), and bottled for export only.

Real rye whiskey (i.e. made with more than 50% rye) is now made by only a very few distillers in the U.S., and is a rarity.

> REAL fondue pot, not one of those little crappy metal ones. The real ones are ceramic and are large, they are as wide at the top as at the bottom (not like the metal ones that are narrower at the top).

I'm not sure what she meant by above but smaller metalic ones are usually for Fondue Bourguignonne (oil/meat) and large ones with big opening is for Cheese Fondue. You don't want to do Fondue Bourguignonne (though I've see some do) with large ones because of occasional oil splash. Ones with smaller opening is therefore better for Fondue Bourguignonne. Each has its own purpose. Perhaps she meant by "crappy" ones, some made/sold somewhere else (USA?), I cannot tell.

Touristic place like Hotel des Alpes by the river/Kapel Bridge should serve cheese fondue all through the year. It does not matter summer or winer. As a visitor you can be there only when you can. Also if you eat it at outside terrace, that won't be too hot.

There's a good restaurant along the river. It's across from the old section and it's near to the smaller covered bridge. The restaurant is called something like the "Green Latern" although it's in German.

This restaurant offers 28 versions of Röstii and it's quite good. It's a fulling meal, so bring your appetite.

Blackduff

The large ceramic pot used for cheese fondue is known as a "caquelon".

"While delicious, you might want to avoid the fondue, rachlette and roesti in June and July unless you want to really scream out that you are a tourist."

Well, we ARE tourists? So what if we stand out a tiny bit more when we order fondue/raclette "out of season"? It's not as if we wouldn't be spotted as an Auslander anyway.

I admit that fondue/raclette in the heat of summer is awfully heavy, but if that's what you can't get at home and you want to have it where it's the best, then who cares. We had a conversation with a Swiss shop owner in Luzern and were talking about that very thing. Her comment? that her husband loved fondue and raclette throughout the year and it didn't matter to them that it was out of season.

cicerone - two things 1) why would I want to make something myself in Switzerland if I'm going to try traditional food there? :> Maybe when I get home. Which brings me to 2) If you watch the Samantha Brown show on the travel channel she told some locals, while eating fondue, something that just made me die laughing because it's so true. She said, "We have a tradition in the US that when someone gets married, you give them a fondue pot. They may use it once then it sits in a cabinet for at 10-15 years. Then it's sold at a garage sale for about $5.00". Sad but true. I've owned two in my life and I've used them maybe once each. Therefore, I doubt that I'll be buying one to bring home. :>

That chocolate fondue sounds wonderful tho!!! I love chocolate and bailey's. YUMMM!!

laverendrye - okay, now I know much more about whiskey, whisky and scotch than I ever planned on. Thanks :>

blackduff - we'll have to check it out.

JN - Exactly - we are tourists!!

Somewhere someone made a comment about what I asked about taking a flask into the restaurant. They asked if we could do that here. No we can't. But, this last post about "we ARE tourists" made me thing of another comment about that. Not only do we not have twin beds in our hotels, we don't have items that are only served during certain parts of the year. Well, except for Turkey & dressing for the holidays. But, I guess what surprised me the most is that on almost every swiss site that I've gotten onto has mentioned that you must try the Raceletts and Roesti with no mention that they are seasonal dishes. I think I will make a separate post on this site to let other know that's the case.

Thanks for all the great info.

whitneykt- The information someone gave you is incorrecgt, they do not sell liquor or cigaretts at the Migros grocery stores.

suze - thanks. I was directed to go to www.migros.ch. When I did, I was redirected (by the web address) to www.le-shop.ch. On the website, you can buy liquor, cigs, beer, jewelry, some clothing, and more. So that's what I was going by. But, have since found out that the actual stores don't have anything but groceries. Sorry for the confusion.

heck, it's not confusing to me because I stay with a friend on Montreux quite often.

I was clarifying to make sure you had figured it out.

She gets food/groceries/household goods at the Migros. She has wine delivered to her apartment from Le Shop. She also buys liquor, wine, cigarettes, cigars from PicNPay.