Scottie Pippen Is Releasing a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Black Tea, So Get Ready for the Perfect Holiday Assist

Basketball legend Scottie Pippen is taking shots off the court, as he dives into the bourbon spirits game. Earlier this year, the NBA All-Star MVP and U.S. Olympic team player introduced DIGITS, a five-year Tennessee bourbon that has won its own gold medals. The bourbon — which is produced, bottled, and aged at Napa Valley winemaker Dave Phinney’s Savage & Cooke Distillery — has a dark caramel color with aromas of vanilla and oak and was named after Pippen’s large hands.

While DIGITS has been scoring big amongst consumers since its release, number two in Pippen’s starting lineup is a limited-release Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Tea made in partnership with premium craft tea brand Smith Teamaker. Known for its full-leaf teas handmade in small batches, the Portland-based brand was founded in 2009 by the late Steve Smith, who also launched Tazo. And since Pippen played four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers towards the end of his career, it makes perfect sense that the two have teamed up to create magic for the holiday season.

The blend includes three black teas — Assam, Ceylon, and Keemun Chinese black tea — soaked in DIGITS bourbon and aged in DIGITS charred oak bourbon whiskey barrels. Ingredients such as vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut are added for a complexity that is only found in Pippen’s crunch-time transition three-pointers. And because the alcohol content sits at around 0.03 percent (which is right below the requirement for non-alcoholic beverages), you’ll be able to sip on this as much as you like.

DIGITS Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Tea drops December 5 on the Smith Teamaker website for $34.99 per 15-packet carton. You may want to act fast when it does release, though — because if you know anything about Pippen and Bourbon, you probably know that this just might be the best duo since, well, Pippen and Jordan.