New York, NY - QUI Tequila, the world’s first and only Platinum Extra Añejo Tequila, proudly announces an exclusive collaboration with celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa and renowned artist KAWS for the 2025 NOBU Rare, released as a three-part collector’s series. This limited-edition tequila commemorates Nobu’s 30th anniversary with a truly exceptional release.
An exclusive pre-launch opportunity will be available on September 20th to purchase all three editions as a complete collector’s set, with only 300 sets available at $3,000.
A special edition 25-year-old tequila, distilled in 1999, has been aged in oak barrels for 10 years, and rested in stainless-steel tanks for 15 years, is at the heart of this collaboration. The result is an exquisitely smooth and complex spirit, with notes of cherry, honey, toffee, dried orange, white pepper, and cooked agave. Each of the three distinctive bottles—limited to 1,650 units per edition—features KAWS’s signature visual artistry, making this a unique collector’s item that seamlessly blends art, culture, and gastronomy.
The tequila’s remarkable smoothness and depth reflect QUI’s unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship, bringing to market additive-free extra-aged tequilas. Each bottle is individually numbered, ensuring that every piece is a distinctive part of this historic release. This joint venture, crafted by QUI Tequila, underscores the brand’s dedication to excellence by partnering with leaders in their respective fields, defining the luxury and quality of QUI for both its consumers and aficionados of art and culinary innovation.
“This collaboration represents the intersection of culinary excellence, artistic innovation, and our mission to bring the rarest aged tequilas to the world,” said Medhat Ibrahim, Co-Founder of QUI Tequila. “For this special edition, we selected a truly unique extra añejo tequila, harvested and distilled in 1999, making it one of the oldest tequilas available on the market. It’s a tremendous honor to have Chef Nobu, known for his exceptional palate and commitment to excellence, and KAWS, one of the most influential artists globally, join us in this venture.”
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the mastermind behind over 60 restaurants worldwide, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “I have been a tequila lover for years, and after every successful Nobu restaurant or hotel opening, it is tradition for our team to do a tequila toast. QUI Tequila, with its passionate team dedicated to creating the best aged tequilas without additives, was the perfect partner. Their commitment to quality and craftsmanship has made QUI my favorite tequila, and this collaboration with KAWS has truly brought my dream to life.”
KAWS, whose art has captivated global audiences, added: “I’ve long admired Nobu’s culinary artistry, and this collaboration brought my vision to life by blending my passion for art with Nobu’s dedication to excellence. It is an honor to release this special bottle in celebration of Nobu’s 30th anniversary.”
The NOBU Rare by QUI Tequila is more than just a bottle of tequila; it’s a statement piece that embodies the highest standards of craftsmanship, creativity, and tradition. This release is expected to be highly sought after, with each edition offering a rare opportunity for collectors to own a piece of history.
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About QUI Tequila:QUI Tequila, crafted in small batches in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, is renowned for its signature Platinum Extra Añejo, the world's first crystal-clear Extra Añejo. Launched in 2013, the Platinum is aged for three and a half years in American Whiskey and French Bordeaux barrels, resulting in a tequila with rich hazelnut, vanilla, and butterscotch notes and a smooth finish. QUI has consistently delivered award-winning tequilas since its inception in 2011. Founded by NYC restaurateur Medhat Ibrahim, along with Pete Girgis and Mike Keriakos, QUI Tequila was born from Medhat's passion for authentic aged tequilas, which he discovered while traveling in Mexico. To ensure the highest quality, QUI discards the heads and tails of each distillation, using only the heart—the very best part—giving rise to the name "QUI" from the word te-QUI-la. The brand's mission is to create the finest sipping tequilas and make them accessible to more people, embodying the essence of luxury in every sip.
About Nobu Restaurants:
Nobu, the world-renowned Japanese restaurant recognized for pioneering a new-style Japanese cuisine, started as a business partnership in 1994 between Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and his partners: actor Robert De Niro, producer Meir Teper, and restaurateur Drew Nieporent. Originating in New York as the flagship restaurant, the Nobu brand is now an empire with 54 locations that spans across?five continents, with international locations in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Milan, the Bahamas, Melbourne, Dubai, Cape Town, Mexico City, Budapest, Perth, Monte Carlo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Doha, Marbella, Ibiza, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Montenegro, Warsaw ,Barbuda, Sydney, Istanbul, Jeddah, Singapore, Santorini and Marrakech and national locations in Las Vegas, Malibu, Miami Beach, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, Indian Wells, Lana’i, Newport Beach, Palo Alto, Washington DC, Houston, Scottsdale, Chicago, Atlantic City, and Atlanta. Nobu continues to attract fans worldwide for its enduring atmosphere and continuous reinvention of genre-defining cuisine. Learn more at noburestaurants.com and follow @NobuRestaurants on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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