Who doesn’t love Mexico in May? Forget the flights, Savor Group has brought la vida loca to Auckland. Viva Espolón sees Espolón Tequila cocktails served at Bivacco, Bar Ziti, Flush, Non Solo Pizza, Ebisu andAzabu’s Mission Bay and Ponsonby outposts, with every eatery creating a delicious cocktail list, with each drink only $18 a serve. Pair your cocktail of choice with the specialty dish to transport yourself elsewhere.
With a cocktail lineup that includes margarita and paloma variations, ranch water, tequila negronis, and mezcal-led twists that lean into bright citrus, gentle heat, and the grassy backbone of agave, this is a rare chance to taste how a single spirit reshapes itself across six different eateries.
At Bivacco, the bar is pouring the classic margarita alongside a spicy paloma, the latter built for diners who like a bit of friction with their citrus. Pair it with the fried prawn taco, dressed with salsa verde and campechana, or the braised short rib taco with pickled onion, avocado, lime and beef sugo on a grilled corn tortilla.
Meanwhile, Bar Ziti leans into stone-fruit territory with a passionfruit margarita that drinks like a late summer refusing to leave. The Ranch Water sits beside it for anyone after something cleaner and more linear, all lime, salt and the quiet hum of tequila.
Non Solo Pizza’s contribution is the Rosita, a tequila negroni that swaps gin’s botanical edge for something warmer and rounder, designed to drink alongside the Osteria pizza. It’s an unlikely pairing on paper that makes complete sense when you try it.
Ebisu and Azabu Mission Bay (and Ponsonby) share a menu, that might be the most ambitious of the lot. The ESPaloma anchors the drinks list, while the kitchen sends out poached prawn tostadas and wagyu tartare tacos that play the group’s Japanese sensibility against Mexican brightness. Expect rotating taco specials throughout the month, so a return visit is definitely required.
Viva Espolón runs for the entire month of May across the participating Savor venues, with $18 cocktails the entire month. We suggest working your way through the list for a true slice of la vida loca.
Full details and bookings at savor.co.nz.
