For some reason, people still associate hard, dark liquors with growing hair on your chest. With more than a few well-established women named masters in the distilling and blending game, the stereotype is slowly but surely being squashed. Take a look at the careers of these women who can drink you under the table then replenish what they drank with their very own top-notch spirits:
Kirsteen Campbell: Master blender for The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark
Marianne Barnes: Master distiller at Castle & Key Distillery. She was also the first female master distiller of Kentucky bourbon since Prohibition.
Joanne Moore: Master distiller at G&J Distillers for 10 years
Kristy Black: Master distiller and distillery manager at Arbikie Highland Estate. She can be thanked for Kristy’s Gin, which they released last July.
Joy Spence: Master blender at Appleton Estate
Lorena Vasquez: Master blender at Zacapa
Rachel Barrie: Master blender at Morrison Bowmore. She’s been making a name for herself in the industry for 24 years.
Bridget Firtle: Master distiller, CEO and founder at The Nobel Experiment rum distillery.
Maria Teresa Lara: Master distiller at Herradura – Mexico’s only female Tequila master distiller
Jassil Villanueva Quintana: Master blender at Brugal
There’s more to distilling and blending than just a love of alcohol. A true master is experienced in science, technology and mathematics with a flair for creativity. These experts are well versed in their studies and, lucky for us, are using their powers for good. With whiskey becoming more accessible, the audience is growing to including more and more women. Time to learn how to distill.