Whiskey Rebellion: How American Whiskey Sparked an Uprising
Tue, 20 May 2025
Women in Whiskey: Shaking Up a Man’s World
Highlighting the growing presence and historical contributions of women in whiskey – from master distillers and blenders to the rising number of female whiskey enthusiasts – breaking the stereotype that whiskey is a “man’s drink.”
Posted By: Admin
On: Tue, 20 May 2025
Women & Whiskey: Breaking the Old Boys’ Club Myth
It’s long past time to retire the image of whiskey as a stuffy “old boys’ club” beverage. Women have been part of whiskey’s story since, well, forever — they just didn’t always get the spotlight.
Fun history fact: In the 1800s, one of the most famous distillers in the U.S. was a woman, Catherine Carpenter, who wrote a detailed whiskey recipe in 1790. In modern times, many top whiskey brands have women at the helm.
Elizabeth McCall – Assistant Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve
Kelsey McKechnie – Former Malt Master at Glenfiddich, Scotland
Peggy Noe Stevens – Known as the “First Lady of Bourbon,” founder of the Bourbon Women Association
These women — and many others — prove that when it comes to making and appreciating whiskey, gender is irrelevant.
Women as Whiskey Consumers
The number of female whiskey drinkers has more than doubled since the 1990s — from about 15% to well over 30% of the whiskey market today. In some younger demographics, it’s nearing parity.
In the UK alone, women drank 40 million more glasses of whiskey in 2017 than they did a decade prior. Marketers have finally caught on, ditching the patronizing “for her” pink drinks and instead acknowledging that women enjoy a complex dram just like men.
Today, whiskey clubs and tasting groups for women have popped up globally — spaces where women can explore single malts, ryes, and bourbons without condescension.
Why the Surge?
Several factors are fueling this shift:
Changing cultural norms – The old stereotype of “ladies drink wine, men drink whiskey” is fading.
Pop culture influence – TV shows like Mad Men showed cool female characters sipping whiskey, making it feel natural.
The craft cocktail boom – Whiskey cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sours act as an accessible gateway for newcomers, leading many to try neat bourbon or Scotch.
The Bottom Line
Whiskey doesn’t care who’s drinking it. The industry is slowly but surely shedding its macho mystique. More inclusion means more innovation and enjoyment for everyone.
Here’s a toast to the women of whiskey — the distillers, blenders, writers, ambassadors, and fans — who are enriching the whiskey world with their talents and perspectives.
So, next time someone says “whiskey is a man’s drink,” you can reply:
“Actually, women now make up about 36% of whiskey drinkers — and climbing. Now, how about we drink to that?” ????
