Meet the Makers: Abisola Abidemi, Founder of Abisola Whiskey

Abisola Abidemi, founder of Abisola Whiskey, made her first whiskey sales just shy of a year ago, May 10, 2021, after starting her journey to her own whiskey brand a year before. Find out a little about how her passion for whiskey led her to start a whiskey brand with...

Meet the Makers: Molly Troupe: Master Distiller at Freeland Spirits

We talked with Molly Troupe, Master Distiller, and partner at Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon about her role at the woman-led and run distillery that’s putting women first both in their company and as their mission within the spirits and beverage community. As...

Meet the Makers: Shaylyn Gammon, Whiskey Director at Blue Run Spirits

Shaylyn Gammon, recently named Whiskey Director for Blue Run spirits, has moved from working with one whiskey legend (Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey) to another (Jim Rutledge at Blue Run Spirits), and her new role as Whiskey Director at Blue Run soun ds like every...

Meet The Makers: Kings County NY Market Specialist Jennifer Blair

Kings County NY Market Specialist Jennifer Blair leverages her loves of both nightlife and theater to predict whiskey market changes.

Last Chance for Buzzard’s Roost Rare Bottle Raffle

UPDATE 3/29/22: Last chance to win a rare bottle of Buzzard's Roost 15 year old whiskey! These ultra rare bottles are select whiskey donated to Bourbon Women to support our Bourbon Women Foundation. Purchase your raffle ticket here:...

Meet The Makers: Raise A Dram Founder Marcy Rudershausen

Marcy Rudershausen is more than just the first and only woman to become a Master of Scotch, she’s also a two-decade spirits industry veteran.

Meet The Makers: 3 Floyds Distilling Vice President + Head Distiller Abby Titcomb

Abby Titcomb’s degree in art history went a long way toward setting expectations in a career in distilled spritis.

Meet The Makers: Kings County Distillery Visitor Experience Manager Kelci Koonce

Kelci Koonce can trace her lineage back to moonshiners, but working in the legal spirits industry only recently landed on her radar.

Meet The Makers: George Dickel General Manager And Distiller Nicole Austin

Nicole Austin worked at several distilleries before becoming the general manager and distiller at George Dickel.

Meet The Makers: Three Chord Barrel Program Manager Laura Webb

Though Laura Webb spent most of her life in Bardstown, Kentucky, working in the Bourbon industry wasn’t always on her radar.

Meet The Makers: Widow Jane President & Head Distiller Lisa Wicker

Lisa Wicker has had a dynamic career in beverage alcohol. She grew up in Indiana and always seemed to have some science experiment bubbling in her grandmother's sauerkraut crock. Little did she know she would eventually find her career path first in winemaking and...

Meet The Makers: Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Program Associate Susannah Hubler

Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Program Associate Susannah Hubler may have a science background, but she loves teaching consumers about whiskey.

Meet The Makers: Wild Turkey Visitor Center Coordinator Katrina Egbert

Katrina Egbert was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2019 after more than 30 years with Wild Turkey, often being credited as Jimmy Russell's right-hand. BW: How did you end up working in the Kentucky Bourbon industry? KE: Lawrenceburg, KY where Wild...

Meet The Makers: Beam-Suntory Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Victoria Russell

Victoria Russell is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Beam-Suntory, parent company of Jim Beam Whiskey.

Meet The Makers: Spirit Works Distillery Co-Founder Ashby Marshall

When Ashby Marshall co-founded Spirit Works Distillery right in the heart of Sonoma wine country, it was after a lifetime love of whiskey.

Meet The Makers: Great Wagon Road Distiller Michelle Piechowicz

The road to becoming a distiller isn't always a straight one, and it can start just about anywhere. In the cast of Great Wagon Road Distiller Michelle Piechowicz, the road started with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science. BW: How do you use your background in...

Meet the Makers: LA Spirits Awards Co-Founder Nicolette Teo

After a career as a three-time Olympic swimmer in her native Singapore, Nicolette Teo pivoted to a career in wine and spirits. This career included a stint as the Managing Director of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) from 2015 to 2018 before she...

Meet The Makers: Blaize & Brooks Founder Cara Osborne

A bout of homesickness and a reading of Fred Minnick's Whiskey Women led Bourbon Women member Cara Osborne to create her own whiskey brand, Blaize & Brooks. BW: What led you to the decision to start your own whiskey brand? CO: In November of 2019, I read Fred...

Meet The Makers: Catoctin Creek Master Distiller Rebecca Harris

Rebecca Harris had a background as a chemical engineer when her husband and business partner, Scott, came up with the idea of opening a distillery. Eventually Catoctin Creek was born and the rest is history! BW: How did you find yourself owning a distillery and...

Warm Cocktail Recipes

It's time to sit by the fire with a book and a warm drink! Whiskey is a lot more versatile than most people imagine. Warm drinks tend to do really well with a little added whiskey, whether that's in your apple cider, cherry cider, hot cocoa, tea, or even your holiday...

Meet The Makers: Sonoma Distilling Production Operator Roxanne Tiburolobo

Roxanne Tiburolobo (he/they) is the Distillery Production Operator at Sonoma Distilling Co, whose background in forensic pathology led to a career first in brewing and later in distilling, a career path he began back in 2013 when California had just changed the laws...

Bourbon Women Holiday Gift Guide

The Bourbon Women Association has a lot of options when it comes to holiday gifts! Aside from Bourbon Women apparel, which will show your Bourbon Women colors everywhere you go, there are books, bar tools, and more - something to please every Bourbon lover in your...

Meet The Makers: Reservoir Distillery Education Director Shelley Sackier

Shelley Sackier is a writer of novels on top of being a whiskey educator at Virginia's Reservoir Distillery. Her passion for whiskey was ignited on a trip to Scotland, and these days she is passionate not only about educating consumers about whiskey, but also about...

Whiskey Punch Recipes

Offering cocktails to guests in your home may be second nature by now, but what if you want to enjoy your own party? Punches are a great way to ensure your guests get a perfect cocktail every time while at the same time you aren't making individual cocktails all day...

Meet The Makers: Uncle Nearest Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler

Victoria Eady Butler is a force of nature in the whiskey blending world. A descendant of Nearest Green, Butler had barely retired from her decades-long career in law enforcement before embarking on her new passion project, blending whiskey for the Uncle Nearest brand....

Bourbon Books For The Beginner

With so many options available for Bourbon books, it can be daunting to figure out where to start in your Bourbon education. Podcasts, websites, and magazines are full of more information than you could ever possibly digest, and it's important to have a broader...

Meet The Makers: Big Nose Kate Co-Founder Melissa Heim

Melissa Heim was distilling at Rogue Spirits back in 2008. Her whiskey journey didn't stop there, and today she is co-Founder and Master Blender of Big Nose Kate Western Whiskey. BW: I love what you said on your LinkedIn profile about believing in potential over...

Planning A Bourbonism Trip To Louisville

Welcome To Bourbonism Louisville is the epicenter of Bourbon. It's easy to get flights into Louisville and if you are driving there are three interstates that will lead you to the Bourbon City. Once you get here, there are numerous distilleries just in downtown...

Meet The Makers: Bardstown Bourbon Co Quality Control Chemist Meghan Mattingly

Can a childhood passion for forensic chemistry lead to a career in the Bourbon industry? That's exactly how it happened for Bardstown Bourbon Company Quality Control Chemist Meghan Mattingly! BW: How did you first become interested in chemistry? MM: Becoming...

2021 NYPD Finalist Cocktail Recipes: Roots & Shoots

Mara Hartings is the leading bartender for Bardstown Bourbon Company. Roots & Shoots 1 1/2 oz Rabbit Hole Cavehill 1 oz Angelica Tea 1/4 Ginger Rich Syrup Garnish with Grapefruit peel Ginger Rich Syrup: Juice the ginger, add 3 times that weight of water. Divide...

Meet The Makers: Reservoir Head Distiller Mary Allison

There are a surprising number of theater majors in the whiskey business. We recently caught up with one of them, Mary Allison, who is the Head Distiller at Virginia's Reservoir Distillery. BW: At what point did you decide to become a distiller? MA: I do not think...

2021 NYPD Finalist Cocktail Recipes: Stone Cold Churchill

Jennifer Brian is the Founder of Make & Muddle, a company that specializes in cocktail mixers and education. Stone Cold Churchill 1.5 oz Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye 1.5 oz Rabbit Hole Heigold Bourbon 0.5 oz Make & Muddle Spiced Cherry Vanilla Syrup 0.5 oz...

Meet The Makers: Rex Whiskey CEO Chaunci King

Chaunci King is the Founder and CEO of Royalty Spirits, which includes a line of CBD cocktail mixers, Miru Vodka, and Rex Whiskey, a rye whiskey aged in Bordeaux and Burgundy wine barrels from the Pacific Northwest. She can best be described as a "serial...

2021 NYPD Finalist Cocktail Recipes: Sherry Cherry Bang Bang

Jessica Sarama is a bartender at Murphy's Pub in Cinncinnati who participated in our 2021 Not Your Pink Drink cocktail competition at Rabbit Hole Distillery. Her Sherry Cherry Band Bang was a hit! Sherry Cherry Bang Bang 2 ounces Rabbit Hole Dareringer Sherry Cask...

Meet The Makers: Tropical Distillers Master Distiller Devin Walden

From a job at Woodford Reserve to becoming Master Distiller of Tropical Distillers in Miami, Florida, Devin Walden has yet to become a household name but she's well on her way. BW: Your career has ranged from bartending to bottling to sales to production. How has this...

Uncle Nearest The Little Easy Smoked Cocktail Recipe

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is always coming up with new and great cocktail recipes. Experimenting at home with cocktails is a great way to gain the confidence you need to walk into a bar and order exactly what you want, and if you aren't sure you have it you will...

2021 NYPD Finalist Cocktail Recipes: Apricot Sour

Becky Yannayon, Belle Meade Culinary Loft Mixologist/ Chef pairings Executive Bourbon Steward, was a finalist at the 2021 Not Your Pink Drink cocktail competition. Her apricot sour recipe had a great balance of sweet and sour. Try it for yourself! Apricot Sour 2.5...

Meet The Makers: Pinhook CEO Alice Peterson

Pinhook Whiskey releases whiskeys in "crops" each year, so you never get the same whiskey twice. It's released when it is deemed ready, and one of the revolutionary ways the brand has found to connect with its fanbase is a text-to-buy option. We recently caught up...

Meet The Makers: Koval Founder Sonat Birnecker Hart

Koval Distillery is a Kosher-certified distillery in northern Chicago founded by two former university professors from the Washington DC area. Koval is Yiddish for "black sheep," a reminder of the Jewish side of the family. Meet Koval Founder Sonat Birnecker Hart and...

Meet The Makers: Jeptha Creed Production Supervisor And Procurement Specialist Alicia Burton

Alicia Burton started out behind the bar at Jeptha Creed Distillery and has worked her way through various job titles including production planner scheduler at Jeptha Creed to her current role of production supervisor and procurement specialist. BW: How did you first...

Meet The Makers: SIA Scotch Founder Carin Luna-Ostaseski

Carin Luna-Ostaseski is in a rare class of whisk(e)y brand founders: one of the few Hispanic women to found a Scotch brand. She also took an unusual path to start SIA Whisky in starting with a Kickstarter campaign! Oh, and she's also one of the only 6% of pilots in...

Meet The Makers: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Inspector Perri Kostecki

Barrel inspectors ensure barrels can be resold and reused without issue. Meet Kentucky Bourbon Barrel inspector Perri Kostecki.

Meet The Makers: Blinking Owl Distillery Co-Founder Robin Christenson

Meet Blinking Owl Distillery Co-Founder Robin Christenson, whose vision included setting up a distillery in Southern California.

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Brown Sugar Grapefruit Sour

Grapefruit is a winter fruit, but it makes a great summer cocktail! Thank you to Katy McAvoy for submitting this to our amateur division in our 2021 NYPD Cocktail Competition! Brown Sugar Grapefruit Sour 2 oz Rabbit Hole Cavehill bourbon whiskey 1.5 oz fresh...

Meet The Makers: Waterford Distillery Agronomist Grace O’Reilly

An agronomist is a handy person to have on staff at a distillery, and Grace O’Reilly of Waterford Distillery in Ireland is up to the task!

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Watermelon Rye-Zing

Watermelon goes surprisingly well with whiskey, making for a refreshing summer cocktail combo. Thank you to Katie Mazur for submitting this recipe to our 2021 NYPD Cocktail Competition amateur division! Watermelon Rye-Zing 1/2 cup cubed watermelon 3oz Rabbit Hole...

Meet The Makers: The IX Bourbon Founder Brittany Penny

Brittany Penny is the Founder of The IX Bourbon, pronounced "The Nine," a project she dreamed up during sleepless nights with her newborn. She wanted to do something that not only honored the "firsts" achieved by African-Americans but also that would rise above the...

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Under The Kentucky Sun

Did you know that jams and jellies can make a great cocktail sweetener in a pinch? Use them in place of simple syrups if you don't have the time to make it ahead of time. Thank you to Adina L Ewaldz for this delicious cocktail recipe! Under the Kentucky Sun 1 1/2 oz...

Meet The Makers: Crooked Water Spirits CEO Heather Manley

Crooked Water Spirits Founder and CEO Heather Manley started with an idea: what if she could bring a unique spirit to market?

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Honey Cinnamon Old Fashioned

We had some fantastic Honorable Mentions from our amateur entries this year for Not Your Pink Drink! Thank you Carrie Cole for this Old Fashioned riff, which she says is "a sweet and spicy take on a classic cocktail." Honey Cinnamon Old Fashioned Rabbit Hole...

Meet The Makers: Skrewball Whiskey Co-Founder Brittany Merrill Yeng

Skrewball Whiskey Co-Founder Brittany Merrill Yeng knew you wanted peanut butter whiskey before you did, and now you love it.

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Peppercorn & Rosemary Pineapple Sour

Simple cocktails are great because of their simplicity, but sometimes you need to complicate things a little. Enjoy this sour submitted by Bardstown Bourbon Co. Regional Brand Ambassador Leslie Bryan! Peppercorn & Rosemary Pineapple Sour Muddled black peppercorn...

Flight of Rye and Cherry Pie

Bourbon Women love high proof spirits and this flight of Rye Favorites from Bourbon Women founding member Cynthia Torp gets even better with a food pairing of cherry pie.

Meet The Makers: Country Smooth Spirits Founder Lori Carcich

Country Smooth Spirits Founder Lori Carcich wants to see more women join the distilled spirits industry – and join Bourbon Women!

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Smoke Justis Mango Madness

If it grows together, it goes together, right? Well, it's definitely worth investigating. Mangoes and Bourbon don't exactly grow together, but in this cocktail they certainly go together! Check out this Honorable Mention cocktail recipe submitted to our NYPD Cocktail...

Meet The Makers: Casa Lumbre Spirits Director Of Advocacy Camille Austin

Camile Austin wants the world to know that ancestral corn makes a great whiskey at Casa Lumbre Spirits in Mexico.

Honorable Mention Cocktails: Cold-Hearted Cadillac

The Bourbon Women Association just announced the finalists for our 2021 Not Your Pink Drink Cocktail Competition, sponsored by Rabbit Hole. We had a lot of great entries, but unfortunately only ten were chosen for the finals. But we wanted to share a few of the...

Cool Off with this Whiskey in a Tea Cup Cocktail for Summer

Sip on this refreshing warm weather toddy variation with Knob Creek bourbon and Earl Grey tea by Hillary Lake, a finalist for the Bourbon Women at the 2019 NYPD contest.

Meet The Makers: Lost Lantern Whiskey Co-Founder Nora Ganley-Roper

Lost Lantern Whiskey co-Founder Nora Ganley-Roper learned what consumers wanted from her time selling wine and spirits.

Meet The Makers: Cooper Spirits Marketing Manager Christy Pope

Years of bartending experience at some of America’s best whiskey bars prepared Christy Cooper for her career at Cooper Spirits.

Celebrate the Barrel with this Barrel-Finished Bourbon Flight

Experience firsthand the effects of secondary barrel-aging on bourbon made at the same distillery (and with the same mash bill) to explore the changes in aroma, flavor, and finish on bourbon whiskey.

Meet The Makers: Bently Heritage Assistant Distiller Chelsea Hendricks

From brewing to distilling to yarn-bombing, get to know Bently Heritage Assistant Distiller Chelsea Hendricks.

Meet The Makers: Cooper King Assistant Distiller Sophie Pashley

Sophie Pashley knew she wanted to make whiskey for a living and she refused to let sexism stand in her way.

Let BW Curry Your Favor with this Award-Winning Cocktail

This surprising combination of bourbon, apricot, lemon, and curry blew away the judges in this cocktail by Jessica Samara in the 2019 Not Your Pink Drink Award Contest. It’s a must-make for any bourbon lover.

Meet The Makers: Heaven Hill National Spirits Specialist Lynn House

Lynn House knows how to teach people about spirits, particularly whiskey, and also makes a great Mahogany Manhattan.

Meet The Makers: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Inspector Schyler Crea

Schyler Crea inspects used barrels so they can go on to live a full life for decades to come.

Flight to Maine

This Maine whiskey flight from the Northeast introduces the taster to four bourbons made in the state and is a great introduction to the whiskies available in the Pine Tree State.

Meet The Makers: Bently Heritage Head Distiller Noya Gilmore

From ironwokrer to distiller, meet Noya Gilmore, Head Distiller at Bently Heritage Distilling.

Whiskey & Age: A Number Of Things Matter

How old is bourbon supposed to be? What happens in the whiskey barrel? Your maturation questions answered.

Meet The Makers: Milam And Greene Master Distiller Marlene Holmes

Marlene Holmes worked at the Jim Beam Booker Noe plant for 30 years before joining Milam & Greene.

Louisville’s Modern-day ‘Bourbonism’

There’s a lot of talk of ‘bourbonism’ in Louisville. Which of these great Louisville distilleries will you tour next?

Perfect Summer Rye Cocktail: Apple of My Rye

Sip on a refreshing apple rye cocktail with this mix of rye whiskey, apple brandy, root beer, and bitters that was a finalist for the Bourbon Women Not Your Pink Drink contest.

Meet The Makers: Westward Whiskey’s Erin Hayes

Bartenders have a unique understanding of the whiskey industry, and Erin Hayes’s skills have proven invaluable on the Westward Whiskey team.

Meet The Makers: Brown-Forman Retired Chemist Elmer Lucille Allen

Elmer Lucille Allen grew up during segregation and later worked as a chemist in the bourbon industry for more than 30 years.

Whiskey Explorer’s Flight

For the bourbon curious, this Whiskey Explorer’s Flight by Nicole Stipp introduces tasters to both bourbons and ryes and the effects barrel-finishing has on the flavor profiles of both types of spirits.

Meet The Makers: Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan

When Jackie Zykan became Master Taster of the Old Forester brand, her supertaster status went pro.

Beyond Fermentation – How Yeast Contribute To Bourbon Flavor

Yeast produces esters, which give your bourbon those fruity, floral, and herbal notes that add to the complexity of the grain and barrel flavors.

Meet The Makers: Swilled Dog Co-Founder Brooke Glover

The only thing Brooke Glover loves more than making whiskey is her rescue dog, Lucy Pickles.

Single Barrel Basics: The Lure Of The Lone Barrel

What makes single barrel bourbons so special? Louisville “Bar Belle” Sara Havens takes us on a single barrel journey from rick house to bottle.

Chocolate and Spice and Everything Nice: Bourbon Ball Cocktail

Spiced chocolate syrup and nutty Basil Hayden made a hot and heavy, decadent Bourbon Ball cocktail for Bourbon Women at the 2019 NYPD contest.

Meet The Makers: Tenth Ward Distiller Kay Bennett

“Find what fascinates you and use it to guide your path,” says Tenth Ward Distiller Kay Bennett.

Meet The Makers: Dinah Bird Of Baker Bird Winery Distillery

Watch This Space For Future Bourbon Women Events Baker Bird Winery and Distillery is the oldest commercial estate winery in the United States that has its original vineyard land. Along with that, it boasts the largest and oldest wine cellar in the US, is on the...

High Spirits Bourbon Flight

This flight with Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, and E.H Taylor comes with suggestions for food pairings for each spirit that bring out more than just the basic differences between the bourbons. It also explores how they change paired with complementary food.

Meet The Makers: Benay Shannon Of Restless Spirits Distilling

You might say Benay Shannon is the clean and legal version of Walter White.

Meet The Makers: Siponey Co-Founder Amanda Victoria

When Amanda Victoria left the corporate world, she knew she wanted to focus on whiskey education and helping the environment.

Must Mix Bourbon-Tiki Tipple – The Noe-Tai Required

Get your tiki bourbon fix with this Bourbon Women cocktail from our Not Your Pink Drink contest in 2019. With Knob Creek bourbon, Campari, peach simple, and a float or blackstrap rum it’s an explosion of tiki flavors in the spirit of bourbon country.

Meet The Makers: Frey Ranch Distillery Founder Ashley Frey

What’s it like running a modern farm-distillery?

Meet The Makers: Breckenridge Distillery Bar Manager Billie Keithley

When it comes to making cocktails, Breckenridge Distillery Bar Manager Billie Keithley says if you can eat it, she can make a cocktail out of it.

Alcohol Professor: What Recovery Looks Like for Whiskey Events

MAGGIE KIMBERL FEBRUARY 3, 2021 Throughout 2020, the pandemic claimed many businesses and jobs, and although the distilling industry has struggled, most distillers were able to maintain their businesses on a skeletal basis.  Although a newly discovered $14,000 FDA fee...

Rye Dessert Flight

While we may be Bourbon Women, we appreciate any well-thought-out flight of whiskies, like this rye whiskey flight created by a former board member, Brittany Allison of Willett Distillery.

Multiple Jobs: Northwest Ordinance Distillery

Northwest Ordinance Distilling, a distilled spirits bottling facility, is looking to fill numerous employment opportunities. The facility is located in the heart of New Albany, Indiana at 707 Pillsbury Lane, site of the former General Mills Pillsbury Plant. Over 100...

Meet The Makers: Barrell Craft Spirits Single Barrel Manager Nic Christansen

Nic Christiansen started her career behind the bar, where she honed her love of trying whiskey straight from the barrel.

Beverage Dynamics: Interview: Bourbon Women Association President Maggie Kimberl

By Kyle Swartz - February 1, 2021 The Bourbon Women Association recently named its newest president in veteran spirits expert, speaker and journalist Maggie Kimberl. Founded in 2011, the association highlights and supports women in the world of whiskey. Kimberl moves...

Meet The Makers: Nearest And Jack Apprentice Tracie Franklin

Tracie Franklin’s path included encouragement from Dave Pickerell.

Spectrum News: “Bourbon Women” Celebrates 10 Years, New Leader

BY DAVID GUILDFORD KENTUCKY PUBLISHED 7:53 PM ET JAN. 22, 2021 KENTUCKY — In what has sometimes appeared as a boys club throughout history, the realm of bourbon aficionados is actually teeming with accomplished women. So says the incoming president of Bourbon Women....

Chili Pepper Mint Julep

This unique chili pepper riff on the Mint Julep combines the spiciness of poblano peppers with the refreshing aromas of mint and the cool feel of bourbon on ice. The chili pepper Mint Julep is a summer tipple with enough heat to keep you sipping in the summer heat all evening long.

Meet The Makers: Wild Turkey Brand Ambassador Joann Street

When Jimmy Russell’s Granddaughter, Joann Street, visited The Buddha of Bourbon at a trade show, she knew she wanted to join the family business.

Great Grains: What A Mash Bill Means For A Whiskey

Bourbon expert Susan Reigler teaches us the basics of mash bills in whiskey.

Founder Peggy Noe Stevens Featured On VinePair

words: VINEPAIR STAFF illustration: DANIELLE GRINBERG In this episode of “End of Day Drinks,” Peggy Noe Stevens discusses her organization Bourbon Women and what the bourbon industry needs to do to promote inclusion. After becoming the world’s first female master...

Meet The Makers: Assistant Distiller Stephanie Batty At New Riff

When Stephanie Batty first joined the team at New Riff it was to do event planning. She quickly realized she wanted to make whiskey.