Upon hearing that Takeru Kobayashi, the most legendary competitive eater in history, is not permitted to participate in the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest this year, Jose Cuervo has offered a legendary reward for claiming an unofficial first place.
Banned from the hot dog eating competition at Coney Island for refusing to sign an exclusive contract, Kobayashi announced that he will be competing unofficially by racing against the telecast via satellite. When the official event begins on television, he will commence eating—at a New York City bar that is hosting his attempt in front of a crowd of hundreds, and will stop after 10 minutes when the competitors he is “virtually” racing against are forced to stop.
If the champion can eat more hot dogs than the crowd winner at Coney Island, Jose Cuervo has offered him an all expenses paid trip to its historic Tequila distillery, La Rojena, located in Mexico’s Tequila region. In addition, Cuervo will immortalize him with a customized bottle of Especial Gold with his image on the label.
“Jose Cuervo is a legendary brand so we respect the legendary feats of others,” said Ami-Lynn Bakshi, Vice President Marketing, Jose Cuervo. “Put the red tape aside: if Kobayashi proves he is the world’s best hot dog eater, he deserves to be recognized as such. And who better to celebrate the achievements of the world’s best competitive eater than the world’s best-selling and oldest tequila?”
Jose Cuervo insists that legendary competitors should have the freedom to compete, especially on Independence Day. Kobayashi has a successful history in his expertise, just as Jose Cuervo has in the Tequila industry. La Rojena is a suitable prize for Kobayashi’s hopeful victory, official or not.
“While we wish Kobayashi well in his effort, we hope that he shares our commitment to responsible drinking and realizes adult beverages are meant to be enjoyed in moderation, unlike his eating spectacles,” continued Bakshi. “To that end, win or lose we’ll want to buy him a celebratory shot of Jose Cuervo and we’ll pick up the taxi fare to ensure he gets home safely and responsibly.”
