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New age cocktails delicately concocted with dry ice and liquid nitrogen have arrived in Five Points. The Welton Room, an inventive craft cocktail bar under the leadership of Chokedee (Champ) Buabucha and Jorgé Ortega, will open in early April at the base of The Lydian apartment complex.
The Welton Room’s theatrical cocktails are what make it stand out. One such drink is the Empress, a libation made with Hennessy cognac, yuzu juice, and ginger puree, then drenched with liquid nitrogen. The resulting consistency is akin to melted sorbet, and bar-goers will be able to drink it with a spoon.
”We love to use modern techniques on our cocktails,” Buabucha, owner and mixologist, explained.
Besides liquid nitrogen, Welton Room will also be serving up Grand Marnier foam and cotton candy. The Grand Marnier foam tops simple margarita made of tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice, and agave.
”After we put the foam on top, we add fresh orange zest,” Buabucha says. “The smell of the orange zest fills the room.”
Cotton candy will form the base of Welton Room’s martini. When the cocktail is poured on top, the candy becomes a part of the cocktail. Martinis will be made according to customer preference.
Welton Room will offer more than just creative cocktails. La Colombe coffee and pastries from The Source and Denver Central Market will round out the daytime menu.
Cocktails, though, are at the heart of the concept. Buabucha and Ortega previously worked under José Andrés at The Bazaar in Beverly Hills.
”This will be different in flavor and ingredient but similar in method [to what we served at The Bazaar],” Buabucha says.
The two selected Denver as the location for their new venture after passing through on a ski trip to Aspen.
”I saw that Denver is happening,” Buabucha says. “The city is growing every day.”
Welton Room is located on the first floor of the Lydian adjacent to the lobby. As such, guests will be able to enjoy a cocktail in the 30 to 35 seat space or carry it out to the lobby.
Buabucha expects to open in early April and will offer a discount to friends and family during the first week of operation.
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