Artketing: 1800 Tequila Brings Out Jean-Michel Basquiat Limited Edition

For its 6th Essential Artists limited edition series, 1800 Tequila pays homage to the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, using six of his artworks to adorn limited edition bottles. Previous series roped in young upcoming artists like Gary Baseman, Ian McGillivray, Shepard Fairey, and Sandro Tchikovani, to name a few, usually around a specific theme like Mexican Heritage, Cinco de Mayo (an important data in Mexico commemorating a victor over French forces in 1862).

The choice of Basquiat, both as a more established artist and also the only artist in this series, is a departure from its previous series which mixed the works of multiple young artists. Basquiat created a graffiti aesthetic in his works, incorporating text, cultural symbols, and repetitive imagery all of which is being showcased on the six bottles.

Tequila 1800 said it selected the artist attracted by his non-conformism and the minimalistic values of his work that are core to the brand’s spirit. “1800 Tequila is enjoyed best singularly, sans frills, garnishes, and superfluous trends,” a brand spokesperson wrote in a press statement, adding “Basquiat was a visionary, and a nonconformist role model for strength in simplicity and shared the same core values as the world’s most singularly drinkable tequila, consistently refusing to fall victim to gratuitous trend.”