The Bourbon Women Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 SIP Scholarships. These remarkable women were selected from the strongest and most diverse applicant pool to date, representing the future of bourbon and whiskey through their passion, drive, and dedication.
The SIP Scholarship is designed to provide meaningful support for women looking to grow within the spirits industry. Each scholarship includes a full SIPosium conference ticket, lodging, and access to a structured mentoring and professional networking program. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that each scholar not only attends the only consumer-industry whiskey conference of its kind but also leaves with lasting relationships and tangible professional opportunities.
If supporting and uplifting women in the bourbon and whiskey world is important to you, we encourage you to consider contributing to the SIP Scholarship program. Your support helps open doors, foster community, and fuel progress across the spirits landscape. Donate here!
We are thrilled to welcome these scholarship recipients to SIPosium 2026 and look forward to the connections, collaborations, and conversations that will unfold. If you’ll be attending, we invite you to connect with them, share your insights, and be a part of their journey.
Join us at SIPosium and meet this incredible group of women, purchase your ticket here!
Let’s give a big round of applause to this year’s 2026 SIP Scholar Winners:
Alexandra Reinnoldt – Louisville, Kentucky
“I hope that SIPosium will help me to create more avenues for connection and support. I hope that it inspires me to create even better experiences for others and that it helps me to be a better mentor for our future interns at the company.”
Alexcia Pugh – Bardstown, Kentucky
“Meeting new people in the last two and a half years has changed my life at every turn. Through
those connections, I’ve found opportunities, friendships, and a community that continues to shape
my journey in the bourbon industry.”
Ashley Grayson – Baltimore, Maryland
“The bourbon community is richer for every perspective it welcomes. I show up to make sure that welcome is real, not just rhetorical.”
Brianna O’Boyle – Lexington, Kentucky
“I would love to bring a linguistic lens to bourbon, exploring how language shapes the stories, culture,
and connections within the industry. I would relish the chance to meet and connect with women
from all walks of life who share this passion.”
Christina Baker – Birmingham, Alabama
“I hope to help expand the narrative of who bourbon is for, creating spaces where learning feels accessible and enjoyment feels communal rather than exclusive.”
De’Qustay Johnson – Atlanta, Georgia
“I try to show up as both a student and a resource. Whether I’m behind the bar, leading an
educational session, or mentoring someone newer to the industry, I approach each interaction with
curiosity and generosity.”
Diesha Banner – Apex, North Carolina
“People often picture a white man when they think of a bartender, but by showing up, I’m proving this industry is full of amazing professionals from all backgrounds. My background allows me to engage others with a mission: to make sure no one else is left “unaware.”
Edna Lopez – Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
“I want to strengthen my skills in leadership, mentorship, and responsible brand engagement to create more opportunities for education and collaboration within my local industry.”
Erin Thomas – Lexington, South Carolina
” I want to build strong industry relationships that allow me to collaborate with people in product development, blending, finishing, and production strategy. I want to contribute to teams that bring new ideas to life, refine existing products, and help shape future releases, while promoting the stories, products, and people behind the whiskey.”
Fallon Dupard – League City, Texas
“My perspective influences how I engage others by centering inclusion without lowering standards. Bourbon can be premium and still accessible. Elevated and still joyful. I am committed to expanding who feels ownership in this industry.”
Jackie Marschall – Dayton, Kentucky
“I like to think of myself as a collector of people. I’m drawn to building relationships and creating
spaces where people feel safe enough to be vulnerable, ask questions, and grow.”
Katherine Ristola – Lexington, Kentucky
“As someone who hopes to become a head distiller, learning directly from women already shaping
the future of bourbon reinforces for me how powerful mentorship and shared knowledge can be in
opening doors for the next generation of women in the industry.”
Kelci Koonce – Bronx, New York
“I’ve met consumers who look or sound like me but have never been exposed to the craft, culture, or
production of spirits. Their lack of access fuels my passion to make education and space in this
industry more inclusive.”
Kerry Moynahan – North Hollywood, California
“Supporting others has always been at the core of my work. Whether I’m mentoring new creators, helping them shape their series ideas, or guiding them through contracts and distribution, I try to create the kind of environment I wish I had when I started—transparent, encouraging, and rooted in respect. “
Keyah Boyd – Baltimore, Maryland
“I’ve met consumers who look or sound like me but have never been exposed to the craft, culture, or
production of spirits. Their lack of access fuels my passion to make education and space in this
industry more inclusive.”
Lauren Gilbert – Anthem, Arizona
“I wasn’t trying to position myself as an expert. I was trying to create something I wished existed: a
way for people to discover local bourbon without feeling intimidated and a way for small distilleries
to feel supported by their community.”
Megan Mullet – Jeffersonville, Indiana
” My priority is creating a “support system” of likeminded women. I believe shared passions create the strongest bonds, and I want to foster friendships that go beyond the surface level.”
Obakeng Malope – Brits, Northwest Province South Africa
“…How I engage with the bourbon and spirits community: with curiosity, respect for tradition, and a commitment to blending innovation with cultural heritage, honoring the voices of those who came before us. Our ancestors brewed these products without science but indigenous knowledge. I bring indigenous knowledge into this industry.”
Shauna Hann – Leavenworth, Kansas
“I genuinely want to find a community that accepts me and provides me an outlet to serve in new and fulfilling ways and make the world a better place.”
Tamara “Tammy” Garnett – Canton TWP, Michigan
“I didn’t just want a seat at the table. I wanted to help build a new one where women feel confident
exploring bourbon, trusting their own palates, and claiming their space in the industry.”