Born in South Tyrol, Ernst ("Ernesto") Lechthaler was raised speaking German and Italian. After High School, he got a degree from a hotel management school and passed various international bar/wine/cocktail courses; then came several years of apprenticeship in Italy (Abano Terme), England (Park Lane Hilton Hotel London), France (Hilton Hotel Paris) and Switzerland (Kulm Hotel St. Moritz), In 1985, Ernesto came to Munich as a young barkeeper, where he ran the Park Hilton Hotel piano bar for 13 years.
During the 1998 Football World Cup in France, he was in charge of the VIP Lounge service in the Paris Bristol Hotel on behalf of the International Football Federation FIFA – with cocktails and drinks, in a dedicated high-end lounge/bar for the FIFA delegation and international guests.
Based on his own experience and long-standing contacts, he opened a number of bars in Munich in 1999.
In the T.com Lounge of the Bayern Munich Stadium, Ernst Lechthaler and his experienced team attended to VIP guests during football matches, typically with cocktails and alcohol-free sports drinks rich in vitamins.
Publications in both public and professional media, appearances on television and merchandising activities soon made Ernesto Lechthaler known outside Germany.
As author of numerous bar, cocktail and lifestyle books (Drinks, Drinks Vitale, 55 Classic Cocktails, Astro Drinks, Aphrodite's Drinks, Snacks & Drinks with Gerd Käfer, Mixed Double with Udo Lindenberg, Cuba Classic – Rum, Drinks & Havanas etc.) he further strengthened his international reputation.
In 2005, Ernesto Lechthaler retired from operative practice and decided to fully focus on his creative activities he had never really stopped performing in the past.
These activities include consulting services for beverage and alcohol firms as well as bar-specific consulting for top-class hotels such as the Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Hotels and, most recently, Starwood Hotels such as the Sheraton in Taipei.
Products designed and licensed by Lechthaler include, among others, the "Classic Bar" series of Spiegelau/Riedel glasses, available around the globe.
Ernesto Lechthaler offered his bar catering services with great success – and still does – at various national and international events such as the Bambi Award, Echo Award, various film premieres, Diva, Berlinale, IAA, CeBit, Cannes Film Festival, Amfar Gala in Cannes with Liz Taylor, Oscar Party in L. A. and many more.
Very popular are his cocktail mixing courses, with diplomas awarded to both amateur and professional mixers.
A few highlights in Ernesto Lechthaler's professional career:
In 1988, Ernesto Lechthaler, with support from Benetton, creates the largest cocktail for the Guinness Book of Records – 1,300 liters in a specially manufactured huge glass.
Guinnes Book of Records
Dinner with Fidel Castro in Cuba, in the context of research work for the book "Cuba Classic", written by Ernesto Lechthaler together with the known author August F. Winkler and the internationally renowned photographer Amiel Pretsch.
Fidel Castro
Private audience with Pope John Paul II. On behalf of International Barkeepers, Ernesto Lechthaler presents a silver cocktail shaker to the Pope.
Pope John Paul II
For 15 years, Ernesto Lechthaler has organized and attended to various After Show Parties for international media companies such as BMG Ariola, Sony Music, Virgin, EMI, Pro 7, ZDF etc. or their artists, among which the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker, Prince, Michael Jackson, Brian Adams, Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Lionel Richie, Elton John, Bee Gees, Chris Rea, Deep Purple, Rod Stewart, Chris de Burgh, Bob Geldof, Steve Wonder, Liza Minnelli and many many more.
Bar catering at major film premieres such as Anna and the King, Tom Raider, Bad Boys, Phantom of the Opera, Air force One, etc. and weddings of famous personalities.
At the 1998 Football World Cup in France, FIFA Lounge service in the Paris Bristol Hotel, with cocktails and drinks for VIP guests.
"Classic Bar" glass series designed for Spiegelau.
