Pippen promotes whiskey at Ray’s in Wauwatosa
Legendary basketball star greets fans, signs bottles
Lisa Krajci was first in line at Ray’s Wine and Spirits in Wauwatosa on Wednesday and waited to meet her favorite baller from her childhood − legendary basketball player Scottie Pippen.
“I was probably the only 8-year-old who really liked Pippen and not (Michael) Jordan. Not to say I disliked Jordan,” Krajci said while holding a paper bag that had three bottles of Pippen’s bourbon whiskey called “Digits” which she bought for herself, her brother and a friend. “My room was all decked out with Chicago Bulls and Pippen.”
Krajci wore a shirt that read “Sippin with Pippen.” More than 100 customers bought bottles of Digits, many bought more that one and had their picture taken with the basketball Hall of Fame player.
Ray’s was one of two Wisconsin stops for Pippen who greeted fans and signed the bottles of whiskey.
“I’ve been a brown drinker for a long time and it was something I decided to do during the pandemic,” Pippen said. “I think we were all boozing a little bit at that time and I decided to get involved in the spirits business.”
Pippen said the idea for the name came from the name Digits as a nod to his professional basketball career and the six NBA championships he won with the Chicago Bulls.
“It’s given me another platform ... it gives me many more opportunities to get out and talk to the fans, and talk to them about my bourbon but also speak to them about my career,” Pippen said. “It’s an opportunity for me to really connect with communities and people who have always supported me throughout my career.”
In his 17 year career, mostly with the Bulls, Pippen is familiar with the Milwaukee area fans and called them a “next door neighbor.”
“I’ve always felt very good about the fan base here. They’ve always been supportive,” Pippen said. “I think that’s been vice versa. I’m sure Chicago fans have cheered for the Bucks and for Giannis (Antetokounmpo) as well as for the Packers ... It’s like a family here, to me.”
When it comes to enjoying his own product, Pippen said he likes to enjoy the taste on it’s own.
“But if I’m around a bar and there’s a great mixologist there, I love drinking mixed cocktails but for me, sitting at home, I’ll either drink it neat or on the rocks,” Pippen said. “I’ll keep it simple. And it’s great that way.”