Kendall Jenner Surprised College Students by Guest Bartending at 4 Different Universities

The 818 founder poured drinks, signed bottles, played cornhole and more on her college tour

Kendall Jenner promotes 818 Tequila at midwest universities
Photo:

Courtesy of Sophie Sahara for 818 Tequila

Kendall Jenner is raising a tequila-filled toast to her college student fans. 

From Oct. 9-11, the model visited four college campuses across the Midwest to promote her award-winning tequila brand, 818 Tequila. Ohio State University, Indiana University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Michigan were all on her college tour.

The 27-year-old founder made multiple stops at each campus where she surprised students and patrons with signed bottles, meet-and-greets and brand merch items – just one day following her appearance at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in Cleveland, Ohio. 

After her first stop at Buckeye Wine and Spirits in Ohio on Oct. 9, Jenner headed to Ohio State University alongside her friend, singer-songwriter Harry Hudson. The pair popped into two local hotspots – Standard Annex and Townhall – where they served 818 margaritas, 818 Tequila Blanco and espresso martinis at both locations from behind the bar.

Kendall Jenner promotes 818 Tequila at Standard Annex

Courtesy of Sophie Sahara for 818 Tequila

Jenner made sure to end her Ohio visit with a game of cornhole before traveling the next day to Indiana University, where she signed bottles of 818 Tequila and Eight Reserve for staff and patrons at three stops – Kroger, Big Red Liquors and the Upstairs Pub. 

Social videos from the Upstairs Pub showed Jenner happily interacting with fans while pouring fresh drinks.

On the same day, she headed westward to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her first stop was at the popular off-campus bar, KAMS, where she hosted an 818 Happy Hour Takeover to a large crowd. She next dropped into Joe’s Brewery, where she continued to serve drinks and meet with 818 Tequila campus brand ambassadors. 

Kendall Jenner promotes 818 Tequila at midwest universities

Courtesy of Sophie Sahara for 818 Tequila

The last stop of the Midwest college tour saw the The Kardashians star at the University of Michigan on Oct. 11, where she hosted a “cheers” with fans at Falsetta’s Market and a meet-and-greet with fans at Top Shelf Liquors. 

She then teamed up with Hudson again to surprise a group of University of Michigan senior students living at the off-campus “818 House” with merch and gifted bottles of 818 and Eight Reserve. 

Kendall Jenner promotes 818 Tequila at midwest universities

Courtesy of Sophie Sahara for 818 Tequila

Following the tour, Jenner couldn’t contain her appreciation for the students and patrons she met over the week. 


“i ♥️college @drink818,” Jenner captioned an Instagram montage of her college stops. “Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan thank you for the warm welcome 🥹🫶”

The model founded the business venture back in May 2021. 818 —  named after the area code for Calabasas, Calif. where she and the Kardashian family call home — is crafted and distilled from family-owned agave farms in Jalisco, Mexico. The brand sells a blanco, reposado, añejo, and añejo reserve.

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“The area code 818 is home to me, but the earth is home to all of us. So, from the agaves we grow, to the production of the bottle, sustainability and transparency of our supply chain was our core focus,” Jenner says on the 818 website. “We feel a great sense of responsibility and pride to have a positive impact on individuals, communities, and the environment. We've had so many magical nights drinking 818 and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.”

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