The Country’s Largest Collection of Mezcal and Tequila Debuts

Mama Rabbit, the mezcal and tequila bar, opens on Wednesday at the Park MGM with a roster of small bites, three rooms, artwork from Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, three sculptured slot machines, and gaming tables with poker and roulette.

The Oaxaca-inspired bar from Bricia Lopez, dubbed the Oaxacan princess by the late LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold, claims to have the country’s largest collection of mezcal and tequila. Rare finds, versions made just for this bar, and an encyclopedia of information on the elevation of each entry give customers a chance to learn more about entry.

“I’m representing the culture and the women of my country,” Lopez says. “Women have a special connection to mezcal.”

Indeed, the female agave plant forms the base of mezcal, yet finds only one home within the bar — held by a sculptural rabbit that houses a slot machine at the front of the bar. Mama Rabbit brought on pop surrealist artist San Miguel to create “Mother Natura” with the country’s first sculptural slot machines and an accompanying mural inspired by the legend of Mayahuel, the Mexican goddess of agave and fertility, who legend has it raised her den of 400 rabbits on mezcal and tequila. “I was immediately drawn and inspired by the strong visual traditions of indigenous cultures of Mexico, not only in the expression of the mythological but in the mastery of harnessing colors and compositions to convey their foundational ideas of the world,” he says in a press statement regarding his work.

The brightly decorated 4,400-square-foot space features a large double-sided bar, live entertainment, and roving margarita carts. Some of the unusual finds on the menu include Fuenteseca MGM Single Barrel, the world’s first mezcal-barreled blanco tequila; the world’s first mezcal aged in a Californian brandy cask; and a rare type of mezcal ingrained in Mexican tradition, made once a year for special occasions. Flights also make the massive menu.

While the bar debuts, the big celebrations come in September as a lead up to Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 15. Actor and Access Hollywood co-host Mario Lopez kicks the party off on Friday, Sept. 13, with a VIP invite-only event. The venue opens to the public at 11 p.m. as musical sets continue throughout the night. Then on Saturday, Sept. 14, Michelle Kolnik, more commonly known as DJ Crykit, starts the party at 8 p.m., followed by deejay and violin sensation Natalia & Esther at 10 p.m.

Mama Rabbit, Park MGM, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Open Sunday through Tuesday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to a.m.

• All Coverage of Mama Rabbit [ELV]