BORIS Lietzow, the owner of Jack White hickory golf shop in Gullane, is delighted to announce a collaboration with Whighams Wine Bar in Edinburgh, creating a line of limited edition ‘Golfers Spirits’.
Nicholas Henderson, owner of Whighams, a keen hickory golfer himself, is delighted to have teamed up with Boris Lietzow to produce the latest in a line of limited edition whiskies, branded as ‘Golfers Spirits’.
How did this come about I hear you ask, other than both men’s love of hickory golf? Boris and Nicholas enjoyed playing hickory golf together and decided to commemorate golfing legends by starting bottling limited edition whisky a few years ago. Their first edition was created in 2019, on the 100th anniversary of famous golfer Walter Charles Hagen’s his win at the US Open in 1919. Hagen (1892 – 1969) was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of 11 professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15). Known as the “father of professional golf,” he brought publicity, prestige, big prize money, and lucrative endorsements to the sport. Hagen is rated one of the greatest golfers ever.
Following on from the success of this first edition and, in line with a memorable hickory golf competition they were organising over the Braid Hills in 2020 – ‘The Scottish Hickory Tour’ – they decided to name the 2ndedition in commemoration of one of the greatest names in golf, James Braid, creating another limited edition spirit – the James Braid 150thanniversary edition. For those not in golfing circles, James Braid was born in 1870, a Scottish professional golfer and a member of the Great Triumvirate of the sport alongside Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor. He won The Open Championship five times. He also was a renowned golf course architect and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
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To follow on from this 150th anniversary limited edition bottle, a second Hagen edition spirit was created as an 100th anniversary commemoration to Hagen’s Open win at Royal St George’s in 1922. The first American born winner of The Open. The Walter Hagen Centennial Whisky is a single barrel Ben Nevis 9, been bottled at cask strength, 100 years to the day, after Hagen’s win, to commemorate the historic event. Ben Nevis, 9 year old, bottled on June 23rd 2022. A single barrel refill, matured for two years in a bourbon cask. Non chill filtered, cask strength 61.2 %ABV. Nose: Barley sweets and dried fruits. Palate: Autumn fruit with spice and vanilla. Finish: Full bodied and long.
As spring nears and the golfing season gets underway, now is the time to remember golfing traditions and for ‘Golfers Spirit to go public’.
To find out more or to buy ‘Golfers Spirits’ whiskies, visit www.hickory-forever.com or purchase online at www.whighams.com. It is also available at the Old Clubhouse (Gullane).
‘Golfers Spirits’ will be among the prizes at the World Hickory Revival being played over Musselburgh Old and Royal Musselburgh in Scotland at the start of October 2023.
