New York City’s Great Jones Distilling has brought the iconic artwork of Basquiat back to Great Jones Street, just down the block from the site of his apartment and iconic Big Apple art studio.
In a statement from the whiskey maker, the full Great Jones collection includes the release of three exclusive bottles featuring Basquiat artwork, the opening of “Basquiat’s New York” tasting room, and the opening of a specialty pop-up “The Basquiat Bar” at Great Jones Distillery.
Distillery officials noted the art deco-inspired Great Jones bottles are getting the Basquiat upgrade, featuring his iconic “Pez Dispenser” Dinosaur graphic, his “Untitled, 1982” (Skull) and his “Untitled, 1982 (Crown).”
The first two bottles, Great Jones x Jean Michel Basquiat Dinosaur Edition and Great Jones x Jean Michel Basquiat Skull Edition, contain 4-year-old Great Jones Straight Bourbon.
These bottles are available for purchase in liquor stores throughout New York State, at the Great Jones Distillery, and with online retail partners.
The third bottle, Great Jones x Jean Michel Basquiat Pineau de Charentes Wine Cask-Finished Bourbon, is a distillery exclusive. It features Basquiat’s iconic crown, and this is a new expression, a 7-year-old Pineau de Charentes wine cask-finished bourbon bottled at 91 proof.
The Great Jones speakeasy has been transformed into The Basquiat Bar, which is now open. It’s a throwback to Basquiat’s New York and one of his favorite watering holes, The Mudd Club. Here, you will see photos of Basquiat and friends, and two borrowed original Basquiat prints from Pace Editions.
The downtown New York-inspired tasting room is housed in the distillery’s multi-sensory Barrel Room. Guests will savor the whiskey on the tour surrounded by oversized Basquiat imagery, larger-than-life decals, and nostalgic items from 1980s New York.
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“As a bourbon from New York City, distilled on the same street that Jean-Michel Basquiat called home, we are proud to celebrate the legacy of such an iconic New Yorker,” said Lander Otegui, SVP of Marketing at Proximo Spirits.
“As we look to establish ourselves as a neighbor and fixture on the famous Great Jones Alley, we’re inspired by the artists and tastemakers who impacted the culture of New York City in such a dynamic way,” he added. “This collection offers consumers a piece of New York history, marrying art and whiskey, within the growing bourbon category.”
For more information, check out www.greatjonesdistillingco.com.
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