Cartagena’s El Barón creates menu for Casa Carolina
Casa Carolina, a new hotel and retreat in Cartagena, Colombia, will serve a range of drinks developed by Diana Paola ‘Luna’ Orellano from the city’s El Barón cocktail bar.
El Barón opened in 2013 and claims to have been the first modern cocktail bar in Cartagena.
The bar’s drinks will be served at the new hotel’s exclusive rooftop, with the menu designed to blend ‘Cartagena’s rich cultural heritage with modern mixology’.
El Barón’s owner, Juan Diaz, said: “We’re proud to bring the essence of El Barón to Casa Carolina. Our goal was to create cocktails that don’t just taste incredible, but that also share a sense of place – honouring the people, stories, and traditions that make Cartagena so unique.”
Cocktails include the Baile y Fuego, which is a tribute to Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez. The serve features Ojo de Tigre mezcal, Aperol, fermented tangerine and guava, and tamarind.
Meanwhile, the Petrona honours the legacy of the ‘cantaoras’ – Afro-Colombian women who tell traditional stories through music. It blends Absolut Vodka, lulo and cucumber extract, ginger, melon and peach liqueur and spicy bitters.
The menu’s signature serve is the Casa de la Nueva Granada, which is inspired by the story of Casa Carolina. The cocktail pays homage to the Leoncita sisters, who once lived in the historic colonial house. It also spotlights the hotel’s loquat tree, which is known locally as níspero.
“One of our goals at Casa Carolina is to support and celebrate the vibrant local community, and this collaboration with El Barón is the perfect way to do that,” said Caroline Soetaert Tchekhoff, the hotel’s owner and founder.
“By working with El Barón, we’ve been able to offer more than just a cocktail menu – we’ve created a space where guests can experience the rich cultural heritage of our city through innovative mixology and local storytelling.”
Cartagena is also home to Alquímico, which was named World’s Best Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards last year.
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