Oban vs Glenfarclas: four whiskies at The Momento, Jeongja Station

Today, after work, I couldn't contain my joy over having the next day off, so I went to The Momento, a whiskey bar with great vibes in Jeongja-dong.

The Momento Jeongja Station Branch / 146 Jeongja-ilro, Emco Heritz 1-danji 101-dong 126-ho, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea / Hours: Daily 19:30–02:00

A whiskey bar near Jeongja Station in Bundang, recommended as a date spot — The Momento

An entrance that felt straight out of Harry Potter

The entrance was so unique. Walking into this mysterious space that reminded me of Harry Potter, I was already intoxicated by the atmosphere before even ordering anything.

A bar I always noticed while passing by, thinking 'that place has great vibes' — The Momento

A whiskey bar run by an owner-bartender with 25 years of experience

Run directly by an owner-bartender and liquor instructor with 25 years of experience. It's a Jeongja-dong whiskey bar where you can try single malts and cocktails with friendly, easy-to-follow explanations.

Tips for using a whiskey bar

• Beginners: get a recommendation based on your taste!
• Intermediate drinkers: choose based on your own preference

An atmosphere spot I want to keep to myself — a Jeongja Station whiskey bar you fall for before you even taste the whiskey, The Momento

First visit: a wall of whiskey and dim lighting

My first visit to The Momento, a Jeongja-dong whiskey bar. I'd passed by often on errands nearby and always saw customers at the bar seats. One wall packed with whiskey and cocktail spirits, plus slightly dim lighting, made for great atmosphere. In particular, the owner's own recommendations and detailed explanations seemed to lower the barrier to entry for whiskey beginners.

As soon as we sat down: a warm towel and a glass of water. Basic service included biscuits & chocolate — they were so tasty we ended up asking for a refill haha.

Glenfiddich, Kavalan, Balvenie, Aberlour — familiar whiskies I've tried before too. Over the past two or three years I've had a lot of chances to drink whiskey and try different things, so I've developed a style of my own, a real preference. For whiskey beginners, I'd recommend asking the bartender for a recommendation. That's what we did too.

25 years of bartending experience, whiskey recommended to your taste, and a delicious tasting experience at The Momento

His elegant hand movements made even a single glass feel carefully prepared. With 25 years of experience, he also runs liquor classes on the side, apparently.

What we ordered and the prices

• Glenmorangie ₩22,000
• Oban ₩24,000
• Glenfarclas ₩30,000
• Glendronach ₩21,000
• Table charge ₩5,000 × 2

I thought we'd just have one light drink and leave, but the recommended whiskies were so good and the atmosphere so nice that we each had another round.

Recommended for beginners: Oban

I asked for a recommendation with a smooth flavor. I'd never tried this whiskey before — soft vanilla aroma hit first, then a deep oak note came through in the mouth, with a smooth finish and just a touch of sweetness at the end. Totally my style.

The taste of Glenmorangie

Next, another smooth recommendation: Glenmorangie. The soft vanilla aroma and smooth finish made it great for whiskey beginners. It's not a heavy oak flavor, so it might feel a bit plain for whiskey enthusiasts, but I enjoyed it neat — it was delicious.

The taste of Glendronach 12 Year

A sweet, rich style centered on sherry cask maturation. There was a faint hint of cinnamon. Compared to Glenmorangie, it had slightly more body, a richer flavor, and a smooth but more intense oak aroma.

The taste of Glenfarclas 12 Year — 60% ABV is a lot for beginners

Since we were already tasting around, why not try something more adventurous? A strong 60% ABV whiskey — too much for me. I immediately felt a spicy kick in my mouth. The first aroma was a deeper vanilla, followed right away by a spicy first taste, and on the finish, heavy oak notes with a touch of sweetness. Beginners will find 60% tough. I took one sip and passed it along.

The atmosphere was so good that what was meant to be one drink each turned into ordering an extra round for good measure. With the owner-bartender's friendly explanations backed by 25 years of experience, the whiskies he recommended matched my taste and aroma preferences perfectly, so it was a really satisfying tasting session. I don't know much about whiskey, but he answered all my questions so kindly ^_^

A whiskey-topped ice cream service to finish

Over our two hours there, broadening our whiskey knowledge, a special service appeared: ice cream topped with whiskey. Just as we were craving something sweet, this thoughtful touch made enjoying the whiskey even better.

An atmosphere that works for solo drinks or dates alike

At the bar table, people came in pairs for a casual drink. On weekdays it's office workers, and on weekends it's a date spot — The Momento, a whiskey bar near Jeongja Station with great atmosphere. The vibe was good enough that I'm already planning a repeat visit. It's a comfortable place for solo drinking too, so stop by whenever you're in the mood for a light drink.