#BWSIP25 WORKSHOPS
(All workshops are first-come, first-serve)
FRIDAY WORKSHOPS – 11AM to NOON
1. Sooner or Later: Does it matter when the recipe for a whisk(e)y is built? A mash bill is created at the beginning of the production process, where a distiller decides which grains and how much of each will make up the flavor profile of a whisk(e)y and how bourbon is made. Here, you’ll learn how each grain and distillation style contribute to a whisk(e)y by tasting through distillates with 100% grain builds. We’ll explore corn, rye, wheat, and barley on their own and then taste through some award-winning whiskies from the Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery, where they build their recipes blending 100% grain whiskies at the end of the process instead of making a mash bill at the beginning. Amy Levesque, the Director of Distilling at Hiram Walker, will be guiding you through the production of flavor, and Gina Fossitt from Dandelion BevEd will be challenging Amy the whole way! So, hold on tight, bring your questions, and get a deeper understanding of how each grain impacts the flavor of your whisk(e)y.
2. Fermentis Academy: Identifying congeners in bourbon: Where the congeners come from and recognizing their aromas and flavors: This course will spend some time diving into the sources of congeners from the fermentation angle, and in general, yeast contribution from fermentation, and how it can set up a tapestry of aroma and flavors in a matured bourbon whiskey. After concentration in distillation, these specific congeners will set up the potential character of the whiskey as the maturation conditions create a sensorial evolution. Join Denise Jones, Technical Support Manager from Fermentis, for an overview of the science of congeners, coupled with an active sensory session that will help identify some of the key aroma and flavor components in your favorite bourbons.
3. The Bourbon Blue Print: Designing the Ultimate Sipping Sanctuary: In this immersive, behind-the-scenes session, you’ll step into the mind of a venue designer to discover how the best bourbon spaces come to life, from cozy home whiskey nooks to world-class bourbon lounges. Brooklyn Steinway, hospitality expert and lead project manager behind the new Heaven’s Door “High Church of Bourbon,” The Last Refuge, will guide you through the elements that create unforgettable whiskey experiences and incredible bourbon collections. You’ll learn tips for creating the ultimate home bourbon bar and list, and how to present to your guests like a tenured bourbon steward. Learn tricks on pairing bourbon with complementary foods, creating ambiance with music and lighting, and hosting unforgettable bourbon tasting events with friends. The goal? Transform your space into a personal bourbon sanctuary—where every pour tells a story, and every sip feels like a celebration. Along the way, enjoy two expressions from the Heaven’s Door portfolio—Ascension KY Bourbon and Revival TN Bourbon—and take home your own branded Glencairn glass as a souvenir.
4. Elevate Your Spirits Tasting Notes: When you write a tasting note are you only creating a list of aromas and flavors? What else could you add to a tasting note? Want to improve identifying aromas and flavors? In this session, you will learn how to write a complete tasting note. And find out why writing a complete tasting note is important.
5. Whiskey Blending Techniques for Diverse Flavor Profiles: Achieving diverse flavor profiles from a single mash bill and yeast combination requires a strategic approach to blending. This begins with defining a clear target flavor profile based on sensory analysis, market research, and consumer preferences. Establishing a sensory specification sheet detailing desired attributes—such as sweetness, spice, fruitiness, oak, and balance—serves as a blueprint for the blending process.
6. From Behind the Bar to the Bottom Line: Want to support the women making and leading exceptional bourbon operations? There’s more to it than meets the eye. Between the distillery and your glass, countless buying decisions shape what ends up on shelves and in your favorite bars—and these decisions can make or break opportunities for bourbon women. Join E Kitzenberg, owner of Picnic (an award-winning neighborhood bar in Minnesota), and Jennifer Ritchie, Brand Ambassador for Willett Distillery, as they pull back the curtain on bourbon distribution and purchasing. You’ll discover how the buying process really works, from distillery to distributor to your local bar, and learn concrete ways to use both your professional influence and consumer purchasing power to champion the women crafting exceptional bourbon. Whether you’re in the industry or simply love great bourbon, this session will equip you with the knowledge to make your support count where it matters most—the bottom line.
7. Preserving America’s Spirit: The Archivists Behind Whiskey Brands: Do you love the smell of a used bookstore as much as a rickhouse? This session is for you, focusing on the behind-the-scenes professionals who steward bourbon history—corporate archivists, curators, registrars, and museum staff. While brand ambassadors bring bourbon stories to life, these often-unsung experts manage the records and artifacts that shape brand identity, marketing, research and development, fundraising, and education. Inspired by UK spirits archives and their impressive outreach—often led by women—this session brings that lens to America’s native spirit. Join us as we sip and learn about whiskey history with Nick Laracuente, Lead Archivist at Sazerac Company and Tim Holz, Brown-Forman Historian and Storyteller.
SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS – 9:45AM to 10:45AM
1. Rye is so Misunderstood: This is an interactive blind sensory evaluation as though you are the blender/evaluator working on behalf of a client. Help Wendy decipher the samples sent to her and create a product for a client, with an astonishing surprise ending.
2. Elevating Bourbon through Glass: Craft, Character & Differentiation: Glass isn’t just a container. It’s a statement. In the world of spirits, first impressions matter. Packaging isn’t just functional—it’s a reflection of what’s inside. And glass? Glass speaks volumes.
3. Cask and Cocoa – Sensory Exploration with Bardstown Bourbon Company and Chocolate: A guided tasting of Bardstown’s Core Four Origin Series with a focus on sensory and mouthfeel using chocolate pairings. Explore four unique mash bills and discuss the symphony of taste and texture. Learn how proof impacts which chocolates are the best pairings and get introduced to how Bardstown innovates in the whiskey industry. Together, we’ll build our vocabulary around tasting and get tips on how to create chocolate pairing experiences at home.
4. A Blonde Walks into a Rye | A Ryeteous Deconstruction: Join Will Woodington, National Brand Ambassador for Chicken Cock Whiskey, for an interactive and flavor-packed seminar that deconstructs the bold, collaborative journey behind Ryeteous Blonde — the brand’s latest beer barrel-finished rye whiskey. We’ll start with a brief dive into the rebellious roots and rich history of Chicken Cock Whiskey, followed by a guided grain-to-glass tasting of our straight rye and the limited-edition Ryeteous Blonde. You’ll get hands-on with the grains used in both the whiskey and the beer, engaging your senses before you sip. Then, special guest Thomas Crockett of Goodwood Brewing will lead a tasting of their original Blonde Ale and its rye barrel-finished counterpart — the very barrels that helped bring Ryeteous Blonde to life.
We’ll cap things off with a spirited cocktail-building session featuring Ryeteous Blonde, co-led by Circa 1856’s Lead Spirit Specialist, Barbie Mudd. Expect sips, smells, stories, and maybe a few surprises — all in the name of whiskey, women, and well-earned rye-teousness.
5. Bourbon 101, From Grain to Glass: Whether you’re a curious novice or a seasoned connoisseur, this experience will awaken your senses and deepen your appreciation for the art of bourbon-making. Join us as we journey through the main processes that transform simple grains into the beloved elixir known as bourbon. Through educational discussions and hands-on tastings, you’ll uncover the secrets behind the distinctive flavors and aromas that make each sip memorable. To top it all off, we’ll guide you through the proper steps to taste whiskeys, unlocking a world of flavor and nuance. With Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbons as our guide, you’ll gain insights that will elevate your whiskey appreciation. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge or uncover hidden gems about bourbon, this class offers something for everyone. Get ready to ignite your passion for whiskey like never before. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this immersive bourbon workshop!
6. From Barrel to Glass: The Art of Secondary Finishing with Wes Henderson and True Story Whiskey: Pull up a chair into the world of whiskey like never before in this immersive workshop led by Wes Henderson—legendary co-founder of Angel’s Envy and visionary behind True Story Whiskey. From Barrel to Glass takes you beyond the basics, unveiling the mysterious art of secondary finishing through rich storytelling, guided tastings, and hands-on sensory play. Discover how unique casks like Amburana and White Moscatel transform fine spirits into masterpieces of flavor. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or an enthusiastic beginner, this engaging and flavor-packed session offers an unforgettable blend of education, entertainment, and craft. Don’t just sip—experience the story behind every pour.
7. Women and Prohibition – Temperance Crusaders, Bootleggers, Repeal Advocates: You may have heard of Carrie Nation and Frances Elizabeth Willard, but what about Mabel Walker Willebrant, Ruth Davis, or Pauline Morton Sabin? Women didn’t just influence the movement towards Prohibition, they were active from 1920 to 1933 in enforcing the law, skirting the law, and campaigning for Repeal. Learn some of their stories with award-winning bourbon writer and past Bourbon Women President Susan Reigler.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS – 2:30PM to 4PM
1. Less Booze ALL THE BOURBON: We love bourbon, but sometimes we want a little less alcohol… how do you use high-proof whiskey in low-abv drinks? Amie Ward (WOW Bartender of the Year, The Healthtender, Safe Bars) and Gina Fossitt (Dandelion BevEd, Sip.Central) will take guests through an interactive seminar where they will learn about low- to no-abv ingredients that compliment bourbon and American whiskey styles in low-abv cocktails. Guests will learn about the makeup, flavor components, and production styles of some of Heaven Hill’s outstanding whiskeys to understand why bourbon is a key component to some great low-abv cocktails. They will leave with a better understanding of low-abv cocktails, some recipes to make at home, and the confidence to do so! Supported by: Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Heaven Hill, Widow Jane, Luxardo, and Silvio Carta.
2. Big Nose Kate Presents: The Spirit of the Outlaw: Spirit of the Outlaw: How to Rewrite the Rules, Pour Out Your Power, and Live Deliciously. This isn’t your average empowerment workshop — it’s a rebellious reclamation of voice, story, and strength. Inspired by the legacy of Big Nose Kate — adventurer, entrepreneur, and survivor — this session is designed to help women tap into their inner renegade and craft a personal narrative that is as bold and complex as a the whiskey we make.
*Learn the inspiring story of Big Nose Kate
*Sip and explore the unique liquid blend with Master Blender and BNK CEO Mel Heim. *Enjoy a feisty and fun “Outlaw” seminar taught by Chief Joy Officer, Jennifer Wren Guests will leave having defined and claimed their personal origin story — embracing the grit, the growth, and the glory — walking away a narrative that empowers how they show up in the world and a Big Nose Kate Bravery Journal to remember the day.
3. The Flavors of Whiskey Science: Ever wonder about the magic in a bottle of whiskey? Join “Spirited” Tracie at Bourbon Women’s Siposium for “The Flavors of Whiskey Science”! She’ll demystify the key flavor molecules and chemical reactions that define your favorite drams. Discover how distillers craft their unique character and when they simply trust nature to deliver those coveted “honey barrels.” Spirited Tracie is eager to share this fascinating journey with you!
4. Michter’s: The Proof Is In The Barrel: In this session, Michter’s will offer a guided tasting through various proof whiskeys to show the influence proof can have on whiskey’s taste. Michter’s enters all whiskeys into the barrel at 103 proof vs. the industry-standard of 125 proof in order to achieve a rich, smooth, and easy-to-drink profile. During this session, you’ll learn about how Michter’s barrel proof entry (alongside our other production techniques) influences our signature style. Guests will be able to compare Michter’s same-aged whiskeys at different proofs during a blind tasting to learn how to better recognize these various influences.