DON JULIO HACIENDA MARRAKECH

Where Agave Meets the Arabian Nights

Following the success of the Don Julio 1942 Hacienda — a Mexican-inspired winter pop-up at Rosewood London in 2024–2025 — we were invited to craft the complete beverage program for the next chapter of this global journey.

This time, the Hacienda traveled south, landing in North Africa at the breathtaking Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, a property known for its lush gardens, contemporary luxury, and deep celebration of Moroccan culture.

And just like in London, the terrace of the Mandarin Oriental was transformed into a vibrant homage to Don Julio tequila: thematic décor, refined Mexican cuisine, curated cultural elements, and — of course — a signature cocktail experience designed by us at Bee Leaf.

Don Julio Hacienda Marrakech - Launch Party

A New Hacienda for a New Landscape

While the soul of the brand remains rooted in Jalisco,

every Hacienda adapts to its temporary home.
For Marrakech, we wanted more than Mexican inspiration — we wanted connection.

The meeting point of these two worlds felt natural:

Mexico, with its sacred agave fields, golden sun, and deep mythological heritage
Morocco, with its storytelling traditions, desert landscapes, lantern-lit nights, and the enchanting universe of One Thousand and One Nights.

From this fusion emerged a narrative shaped not only by flavor, but by legend.

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech - detail

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech - entrance

Crafting a Tale, Not Just a Menu

At Bee Leaf, we never limit ourselves to designing drinks.
We create experiences where people can step inside a story

— where the menu itself becomes a world.

🐝🍃

For Don Julio Hacienda Marrakech,

we developed a narrative led by three mythic figures:

Tonantzin

The Aztec guardian of agave and earth, offering warmth,

generosity, and the spirit of Jalisco.

Scheherazade

The timeless storyteller of the Arabian Nights,

whose tales unfold in layers of intrigue, romance, and mystery.

The Djinn

The mischievous bridge between worlds,
guiding the encounter between goddess and storyteller.
Each cocktail was created as a chapter in their intertwined tale,

blending Mexican soul, Moroccan aromas, and elevated mixology.

The Cocktail Program

The beverage offering was structured like a storybook,

each chapter exploring a different character and their world.

Myths of Tonantzin

Cocktails inspired by the earth, agave, and Mexican rituals

— warm, generous, and rooted in the land.

Tales of Scheherazade

Drinks shaped by spice, transformation,

and the poetic magic of Marrakech nights.

Whispers of the Djinn

Creative, playful cocktails featuring other Diageo premium spirits:

Tanqueray No. Ten, Ketel One, Johnnie Walker Black Label;

representing the Djinn’s ability to move freely between worlds.

The Final Tale — El Encuentro de Dos Mundos

A tasting flight where two worlds meet:
three cocktails symbolizing Tonantzin, Scheherazade, and the unseen hand of the Djinn.

The Classics & Las Almas del Don

Elevated Don Julio interpretations of beloved tequila classics,

alongside a premium sipping selection from the full Don Julio range.

Menu Teaser

El Don del Campo Mandarina Mediana

Designing with Intention

To support the bar team, we developed:

A complete market list for local ingredient sourcing,
A bar equipment list adapted to Marrakech’s suppliers,
A "Bar-Book" for the team with all cocktail recipes, homemade ingredients recipes, operational checklists, stock-count charts, methods and various technicalities.
A booklet-style menu mockup for guest-facing storytelling,
Recipes balanced around specific Don Julio expressions, respecting craft and authenticity.

Every decision — from glassware to garnish — was made to honour both the luxury setting of Mandarin Oriental and the heritage of Don Julio.

Two Worlds, One Night

What makes this project special is not only its luxury aesthetic or refined beverages

— but the cultural dialogue that sits at its core.

In Marrakech, under a sky of lanterns and desert winds,
the spirit of Jalisco found a new language.

Agave folklore met Moroccan storytelling.

A goddess met a storyteller. A Djinn lit the path.

And every guest who steps into the Hacienda gets to taste their tale.

🌿 Chapter I – Myths of Tonantzin

Beneath the sun of Jalisco, Tonantzin guards the agave fields — a goddess of

earth, bounty, and sacred plants. Each cocktail is a blessing, drawn from the

sweetness of the land and the strength of tradition, where every sip carries the

warmth of the sun and the soul of Mexico.

El Don Del Campo

DJ Blanco, Tomato & Strawberry,

Grapefruit, Lime, Soda , Salt

A vibrant creation inspired by the gifts Tonantzin bestows upon the fields of Mexico.

Plátano y Café

DJ Reposado, Banana, Roasted Pecan,

Dry Sherry, Espresso

In Southern Mexico, the morning pairing of banana and coffee is a humble ritual

of nourishment — a gift of the land, watched over by Tonantzin herself.

🌙 Chapter II -Scheherazade’s Tales

By the light of a thousand lanterns, Scheherazade spins her stories — rich with

mystery, romance, and transformation. Each cocktail is a chapter, unfolding in layers

of spice, sweetness, and hidden magic, where every sip invites another, and another,

until the night becomes endless.

Alchemist’s Tale

DJ Añejo, Sahlab Milk & Pistachio, Msemmen & Honey Rose,

Moroccan Mint Tea, Citrus, Clarified

A luxurious creation inspired by the secret arts of ancient alchemists,

a blend of spice and sweetness transformed through the secret art of clarification.

Mandarina Medina

DJ Blanco, Mandarin & Watermelon, Lime, Soda

A sunlit stroll through the market—citrus, fizz, and a whisper of dusk.

🔮 Chapter III — The Djinn’s Passage

Across windswept deserts and bustling markets, the Djinn moves unseen. He gathers

treasures from far-off lands — smoke from the fire, sweetness from the date palms, herbs

from secret gardens — and brings them together to bridge two distant worlds.

His drinks are pathways, each one a journey between Morocco and Mexico.

Luz De Luna

Tanqueray N. 10 , Raspberry, Sweet Vermouth,

Bitter Liqueur, Chocolate

Moonlight captured in a glass,

delicate yet vivid, the Djinn’s invitation to the night’s journey.

Ebony Horse

Ketel One Vodka, Bell Pepper, Sake, Jalapeño,

Green Apple, Passion Fruit, Vanilla, Citrus

Named after the magical flying horse of Scheherazade’s tales

From the Djinn’s stable, a steed of magic takes flight.

Vibrant fruit, gentle heat, and bright citrus gallop together for a daring, exotic ride.

City of Brass

Johnnie Walker Black, Date & Cardamom,

Pomegranate, Citrus, Bitters

The Djinn’s fabled city glitters beyond the sands. Smoky whisky meets the desert’s jewels —

dates, pomegranate, and a hint of cardamom - in a drink of mystery and allure.

The Final Tale

El Encuentro de Dos Mundos

“The Meeting of Two World” is more than a tasting — it’s a storytelling ritual.

Guided by the unseen hand of the Djinn, Tonantzin, guardian

of agave, meets Scheherazade, the eternal storyteller, and

their worlds intertwine in flavors and legend.

This curated flight unites The Sultan’s Vesper, El Don del Campo,

and The Alchemist’s Tale — a journey through the earth’s bounty,

the magic of narrative, and the artistry of the Don Julio Hacienda.

🔮 from the Hacienda

The Sultan’s Vesper

🌿 from Tonantzin

El Don del Campo

🌙 from Scheherazade

The Alchemist Tale

The Classics Chapter

Timeless Stories Retold

Every great story has its timeless classics.

This chapter honours iconic cocktails

— the Vesper, the Manhattan, the Margarita —

each reborn through the lens of the Don Julio Hacienda.

The Sultan’s Vesper

DJ Blanco, DJ 1942, Lillet, Citrus Zest

A regal twist on a classic, sharp and elegant.

Hacienda Manhattan

DJ of choice: Blanco, Reposado , Añejo or 1942,

Sweet Vermouth, Orange Zest and Cherry

A bold, aged interpretation, rich with Jalisco’s spirit.

Tommy’s of the Desert