Mestizo launches low-ABV cocktail menu in partnership with Leve agave spirit co-founded by ex-F1 driver Nicholas Latifi

London Mexican restaurant group Mestizo has launched an exclusive cocktail menu in partnership with Leve, a handcrafted agave spirit co-founded by former Formula One driver Nicholas Latifi, at its Camden and Chelsea locations at the end of March. The two-month collaboration centres on a four-cocktail menu designed to highlight Leve’s lighter approach to agave drinking, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preference towards more balanced, lower-ABV spirits.

Leve is produced in Jalisco, Mexico, from 100% Blue Weber Agave and bottled at 22% ABV – considerably lower than conventional spirits – while retaining the flavour profile associated with traditional agave production. The spirit is made under the guidance of master blender José Sánchez, using a process that includes 42-hour slow roasting in brick ovens, natural fermentation and double distillation. It is available in two expressions: a Blanco and a Reposado, the latter aged for six months in ex-bourbon barrels.

Latifi, who co-founded Leve alongside a group of entrepreneurs following his departure from Formula One racing, described the partnership with Mestizo as a personally significant one: “Mestizo was a central part of MBA social life at London Business School and a big part of my transition from racing into student life, so collaborating with them now on Leve, which started as an MBA class project, feels like a real full-circle moment. Leve is the kind of drink I’d have loved to have in those settings – lighter than traditional spirits but still delivering authentic agave flavour – and Mestizo’s the perfect place to showcase it alongside their incredible Mexican food and social atmosphere.”

The four cocktails developed for the menu each use either the Blanco or Reposado expression and have been formulated with relatively modest ABV levels. The Leve Tommy’s Margarita (9.2% ABV) combines Leve Blanco with lime juice and agave syrup, while the Palomita (4.4% ABV) pairs the same expression with lime juice, grapefruit juice and Ting. The Half Sunrise (6.1% ABV) uses Leve Reposado with lime juice, grenadine and orange juice, and the Espresso Leve-tini (10.7% ABV) blends the Reposado with Tia Maria, agave syrup and espresso.

In addition to the cocktail menu, both Mestizo locations will offer 50% off Leve shots every Tuesday throughout the collaboration period.

Mestizo, which has operated for 21 years, is a family-run business rooted in Mexican heritage and has restaurants at 103 Hampstead Road in Camden and 392 King’s Road in Chelsea. The group has built a reputation for regional Mexican cuisine and an authentic cultural programme.

The collaboration arrives at a time when lower-ABV products are gaining traction in the UK on-trade, with consumers increasingly seeking options that allow for social drinking without the effects associated with full-strength spirits. 

Food Desk

For further information and reservations, visit Mestizo Chelsea’s website here and Mestizo Camden’s website here.