Chez Roc the night away at this piano bar with a sleek and sexy speakeasy vibe tucked away in Cherry Creek’s Clayton Hotel & Members Club.
“This cocktail is designed to provide an escape. It’s refreshing, exotic, tropical, and savory all at the same time.”—Matthew Samson, bartender, Chez Roc
El Morocco Mai Tai
Ingredients
El Morocco Mai Tai
- 1 barspoon Demerara syrup
- ½ oz. Cointreau
- ½ oz. Smith & Cross Rum
- ½ oz. Diplomático Reserva Rum
- ¾ oz. Rhum Clément Blanc
- 1 oz. lime juice
- 1 oz. Tahini Orgeat
Tahini Orgeat
- 1 qt. almond milk
- 5 oz. tahini
- 26 oz. white sugar
- ½ oz. sesame oil
Directions
Tahini Orgeat
- Combine ingredients in a blender. Pulse until the sugar is dissolved.
El Morocco Mai Tai
- Combine ingredients into a shaker and shake briefly with one ice cube to mix.
- Pour into a glass, top with crushed ice.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, lime zest, and fresh mint sprigs.
Ask the Bartender: Matthew Samson
“All of our cocktails draw inspiration from well-known classics while taking culinary cues from the Mediterranean or the Middle East. In the case of the El Morocco Mai Tai, we incorporated toasted sesame and tahini into our orgeat (almond syrup).”
“You’re looking to balance the three components of the cocktail; acidity, sugar, and booze. If you’re off on any of them, it can ruin your whole day.”
“The Mango Star and the Manhattan West both satisfy very different crowds.”
“I hope we aren’t too hidden. But I suppose that element allows us to create a special place that feels removed from the stresses of the world outside our doors. The vibe often changes throughout the night. What begins as a calm, low-lit Moroccan cocktail lounge usually builds to a full dance floor and lots of laughter.”
“We try to incorporate different genres of music through the different musicians we bring in. I think having someone that can read the room and adjust the vibe accordingly is critical to making our guest’s night.”
“If Chez Roc had a mantra, it would be: If you’re going to be one thing, be efficient. But if you’re going to be two things, be kind.”
