BULLEIT BOURBON UNITES LOCAL ARTISTS TO CELEBRATE LA’s TATTOO CULTURE

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Creates 35 Ft Tattoo Art Installation in LA 

FEB. 22, 2017 – LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Los Angeles will have a little more ink following the introduction of a new tattoo art installation at 3921 W Sunset Blvd. & Hyperion Ave. to kick off the Bulleit Frontier Works project. This is the first piece in a series of projects Bulleit will commission to celebrate and unite the thriving creative collaborator community in Los Angeles and beyond.

The tattoo, which features Bulleit Frontier Whiskey’s iconic label alongside dozens of LA-inspired tattoo designs, was crafted by 24 tattoo artists who are locals of the Los Angeles area. The artists who contributed are people who have made a serious impact on the LA tattoo community, including Kim Saigh, Charles Belñavis, Henry Lewis, Shawn Barber and Jason Schroder. Each artist was given a section of the installation’s canvas to design and as a result every illustration carefully portrays Los Angeles in a way that is unique and personal to each artist. The tattooists selected to be part of this collaboration have collectively been in the industry for more than 100 years and have drawn thousands of tattoos that have adorned the people who roam the streets of Los Angeles and cross the globe.

“Tattooing is an art form that takes years of practice to perfect,” says tattoo artist Christina Ramos. “I was honored when Bulleit approached me to help create this, as tattoos are so relevant in LA’s culture. Tattoos are typically permanent, lifelong commitments so when I was asked to be a part of this group I knew we needed to come together to create something special that really personified and paid homage to the soul of our city that would leave a lasting impression.”

The Bulleit Frontier Works sign, located in the Silverlake neighborhood, is an incredible mix of design and artistic ability that took the tattooists more than 90 hours to design and create. Flanking Bulleit’s bourbon logo are more than 24 separate etchings that were inspired by the Los Angeles vibe including favorite local food trucks, views of the LA skyline, depictions of the beach scene and tributes to the Los Angeles movie industry.

“Bulleit gave me a lot of creative freedom when designing my piece of leather for the installation,” said Nathan Kostechko, one of the tattoo artists participating in the collaboration. “The group of tattooists brought the project to life beautifully and I hope it makes people smile when they pass by.”

The Bulleit Frontier Works program will continue with another art installation in Los Angeles this spring before branching out to other cities around the country. The program aims to unite and celebrate the makers, artists and entrepreneurs who dedicate their lives to pushing the boundaries of the cultural frontier. Bulleit, a whiskey founded by Tom Bulleit who abandoned a successful law career to fulfill a lifelong dream of reviving his family’s century old high rye bourbon recipe, chose to launch in Los Angeles based on the relations made with bartenders, partners and friends who’ve embraced the whiskey so much that LA is now Bulleit’s bestselling market.

“From our partners at Coolhaus Ice Cream in Culver City to our friends at WeWork Santa Monica to dozens of bartenders we’ve known for years opening up fantastic new cocktail spots, LA is our kind of place,” said Bulleit Brand Director Ed Bello. “The kind of place where people who’ve been stirred by the frontier can unite to accomplish amazing things.”

To celebrate the installation, Bulleit will host the artists, press and members of the community at a private event thanking them for their support and appreciation of the tattoo industry. The event will allow guests to enjoy delicious Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye cocktails responsibly – a message also featured prominently on the sign.

About Bulleit Frontier Whiskey

The Bulleit Distilling Co. was founded in 1987 by Tom Bulleit, whose Bulleit Bourbon is inspired by a family tradition. Bulleit Rye, a straight rye whiskey, was added to the portfolio in 2011 to critical acclaim, and the brand’s third variant, Bulleit Bourbon 10-Years Old, was introduced in 2013. Bulleit whiskeys use a large amount of rye grain, which gives them their distinctive bold, spicy taste. Bulleit ranks as one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America, which Tom largely credits to word of mouth recommendations. In 2014, Bulleit broke ground on a new $115 million distillery located in Shelby County, Ky., anticipated to be operational by early 2017. Guests are invited to learn more about the past, present and future of Bulleit by visiting the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience at Stitzel-Weller in Louisville, Ky., a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com/.

About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.  Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.drinkiq.com/, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.  Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.