Gin fans and art enthusiasts alike will want to get their hands on the first ever special edition bottle of Bombay Sapphire in Canada. The Bombay Sapphire x Basquiat collaboration bottle, which pays homage to cultural 1980s icon and street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, features one of his earliest masterpieces, Untitled (L.A Painting), only displayed to the public once. 

The painting was influenced by the surrounding remote environment of Venice Beach, L.A where Basquiat found security and solitude away from the hustle and bustle in New York in 1982.  Exhibited in Basquiat’s second ever show, the piece features many of the key motifs that are associated with his work: the crown, the bird, the coin and the skull which are all beautifully collaged over soft hues of blue. 

The collectible piece shines a light on Basquiat’s fearless creativity, building on Bombay Sapphire’s ongoing ‘Stir Creativity’ platform. As a joint mission of both Bombay Sapphire and the Basquiat Estate, this collaboration is a showcase of making the art world more accessible to all who have a passion for self-expression, and great tasting gin!

With gin recognized as the ultimate canvas for cocktail creativity, Bombay Sapphire and the Basquiat Estate have created a signature cocktail inspired by the artist himself, the “King Meets Queen”. Inspired by Basquiat’s sharp colours, stark lines and stabbing contrast, this cocktail is made to stand out and shine next to the Special-Edition bottle this February and beyond, as an ode to Basquiat’s constant curiosity.  

1.5 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin 

0.5 oz Real Pineapple Puree 

0.5 oz Lemon juice 

0.5 oz Honey syrup 1:1 

5 oz Fever-Tree Premium Tonic 

METHOD: Build ingredients in balloon glass with fresh cold draft ice. Garnish with two pineapple top leaves and a few slices of jalapeno (or other pepper) in the drink.

“We’re thrilled to be launching the special edition bottle in Canada to honour Basquiat’s dynamic creativity and offer an entirely new way to experience art,” said James Fisher, Senior Brand Manager of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE. “This collaboration was born from a shared mission to shine a light on the arts and inspire creative self-expression within everyone. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is leading a global charge to stir creativity – a call to arms for everyone to unlock their creative potential.” 

Through the social commentary behind his graffiti inspired artwork, Jean Michel created a global legacy and has greatly influenced modern and contemporary art. 

The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Jean-Michel Basquiat Special Edition bottle is available at select retailers across Canada, including the LCBO, in a 750ml 40% ABV format.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.