What is a Drizzler?
THE JACKET THAT NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION
While many of our garments draw inspiration from classic workwear and military design, others have roots in unexpected places. The story of the Drizzler begins not in the factory or the field, but on the fairway. To uncover its origins, we’re heading to the world of sport — specifically, the golf course. Let’s tee off…
The McGregor “Scottish Drizzler”
Compared to styles like the Type III trucker or N1 deck jacket, the Drizzler is a less common silhouette in the Iron Heart lineup. However, it’s no less rich in heritage, combining elements from two notable mid-20th-century sports jackets.
The first of these is its namesake: the McGregor “Scottish Drizzler”. Founded in 1921 by David D. Doniger, the McGregor brand initially made its name importing flat caps from Scotland to the US — think the Peaky Blinders–style headwear that was hugely popular in 1920s New York — which Doniger discovered while travelling throughout Europe.
By the 1950s, his penchant for refined European style — combined with a passion for outdoor pursuits — had helped transform McGregor into a market leader in American casual sportswear. A major part of the brand’s success was the introduction of the “Scottish Drizzler” in 1949. Later known simply as “The Drizzler”, its design bridged the gap between sportswear and casual tailoring. It was made from a lightweight, highly breathable cotton/rayon fabric and was cut short to allow for freedom of movement, with features including a simple fold-down collar, elasticated waist tabs, and a clean zip front for adjustable ventilation.
While marketed as a weatherproof jacket for a wide range of sports, it was the golfing community that truly embraced the Drizzler. McGregor soon had many of the country’s top players on its sponsorship roster, including the legendary Sammy Snead — widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of his era.
The Baracuta G9 “Harrington”
Another jacket that plays a significant role in the Iron Heart Drizzler story is the legendary G9 “Harrington” from British brand Baracuta. First launched in 1938, the G9 predates McGregor’s jacket by more than a decade and is widely regarded as the first dedicated golfing jacket — with the “G” standing for golf, and the “9” referencing the casual nine-hole rounds golfers often play.
Designed to protect golfers from Britain’s often wet weather, the jacket paired a water-resistant outer with a breathable cotton tartan lining and an “umbrella” back yoke that allowed ventilation while keeping the rain out. Deep, slanted pockets stored golf balls, raglan sleeves allowed for an unrestricted swing, and the signature dog-ear collar could be worn open for ventilation or buttoned tight for a windproof seal.
Fun fact: the “Harrington” nickname actually came later — and has nothing to do with golf. It was taken from Rodney Harrington, a fictional character in the popular 1960s US soap opera Peyton Place. After the character was frequently seen wearing a G9 on the show, retailers began marketing similar jackets — including the McGregor Drizzler — as “Harringtons”, and the name stuck.
So while the G9 is generally recognised as the quintessential British Harrington, the Drizzler is often seen as its American counterpart, with the term used interchangeably for both.
From Fairway to Film Set
The clean style and versatile design of these jackets meant they looked just as good away from the golf course as they did on it, and they quickly became staples of casual menswear. As mentioned above, it was memorable appearances on both TV and the silver screen that captured the attention of a wider audience.
Early proponents included James Dean, whose iconic role in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause saw him famously sporting a red McGregor Drizzler, and Elvis Presley, who wore a Baracuta G9 in 1958’s King Creole. By the 1960s, the Harrington had become a go-to style for other big names including Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen, cementing its place in popular culture and timeless fashion — to the extent that many people today are unaware of the style’s sporting origins.
The Iron Heart Drizzler
While the Baracuta G9 and McGregor Drizzler originated on opposite sides of the Atlantic, the similarities between them are clear — and the Iron Heart take on this classic Harrington style carries DNA from both.
Of the two, our Drizzler shares the most in common with its McGregor namesake. Like the original, the body is cut relatively short — akin to a bomber or tanker jacket — and instead of the ribbed cuffs and hem found on the G9, it utilises a partially elasticated hem and buttoned cinches to achieve its blouson fit. The design also features the set-in shoulder seams and D-stitch open pockets of the McGregor design, creating a more structured appearance than the raglan sleeves and slanted flap pockets of the Baracuta.
However, while the original McGregor Drizzlers traditionally featured a flap-down point collar — often with a buttoned throat latch — ours incorporates the signature dual-button dog-ear (or “swing-top”) collar found on the Baracuta G9, transforming the jacket’s appearance and functionality to create a unique Harrington-inspired hybrid.
As is traditional for this style of jacket, we tend to only offer the Drizzler in lighter-weight fabrics rather than our heavyweight denim. Recent models have been made from a 6.2oz cotton serge and a 5.3oz water-repellent polycotton cloth — the latter an authentic nod to the original waterproof sports jackets that teed off our Drizzler story.