Chris Bishouty – Founder, Broken Tee Vodka

Chris Bishouty is an entrepreneur and marketing strategist whose career has been defined by building things - from direct-to-consumer brands and white-label products to campaigns for other people's brands through his advertising agency background. That foundation in consumer response, brand strategy and creative execution gave him the toolkit to launch Broken Tee Vodka, but the inspiration came from somewhere far less conventional: a childhood spent watching his father practice-putt into a coffee cup in the living room, and an upbringing in 1970s Saudi Arabia where expat families were handed pot stills and a manual called The Blue Flame to make their own spirits. That early, hands-on education in distillation gave Chris a deeper understanding of what goes into the bottle than most founders in the space - and a lifelong appreciation for the connections forged over a drink.

Broken Tee Vodka itself began taking shape in 2020 and launched in earnest in late 2023, born from a simple observation: the 19th hole is where golf's real magic happens, yet nothing behind the bar spoke to the camaraderie and community of the game. A premium, carbon-filtered corn vodka made with non-GMO corn at a hydro-powered distillery, Broken Tee is a lifestyle brand that happens to sell vodka - complete with collectible bottle-top ball markers, a Cocktail Club of golf-themed drinks, and a 19th Hole Series of collaboration bottles with iconic courses like Panther National. Chris has bootstrapped the brand to a direct-to-consumer footprint shipping to 46 states, built a Florida proof-of-concept market, and is now expanding into new states through strategic distributor partnerships.

Based in South Florida, Chris remains driven by the three C's at the core of his brand - connection, community and camaraderie - and by the stories of golfers who use the game for fundraising, tournaments and moving forward after tragedy. Chris believes that "if you build something that you love, you never work a day in your life," and is proof that authenticity, a clearly defined niche and genuine love for the game can carve out space even in the most crowded of markets.