15 Women Making Their Mark in the Drinks Industry

This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating a multitude of women from around the world who are making their mark in the very much male-dominated alcohol industry. From Master Blenders and Brand Ambassador’s for some of the world’s biggest drinks brands, to women setting up their own alcohol companies after falling in love with the creativity of mixology, we bring you 15 inspirational women you need to know more about.

 

STEPHANIE MACLEOD – DEWARS

Stephanie MacLeod made waves in 2006 when she became 160-year-old whisky house, Dewar’s, first female Master Blender. Not only is she the first female Master Blender, she’s only the 7th person in the 160-year-old history of the house to hold that title.

Today Dewar’s is the fifth largest Blended whisky brand in the world, and the top selling Scotch Whisky in the USA. Stephanie has also studied rum, olive oil, wine and cheese and has published a number of scientific papers on the results of her research.

 

AGI GAJIC – SPARKKE

Head brewer at Adelaide’s Sparkke Change Beverage Company – an all female brewery – since 2016, Australian Agi Gajic is one of just 3 Australian female head brewers under 30. She is a passionate master of her craft with “fiery determination for creating alcoholic amazingness”, and has been in the beer industry for over five years since training at Young Henrys in Sydney’s Newtown.

Agi fell in love with beer while studying philosophy and sustainable development at university, and began with home-brewing, before knocking on doors until she persuaded someone to give her an assistant brewer job. In an interview with Marie Claire Australia, Agi attributed her success to female role models within the industry, “Feeling enabled and empowered is very important. I just hope gender constructs can be broken down as time goes on, and [more] women can get into roles that aren’t typically defined as female”.

 

CLAIRE MARIN – CATSKILL PROVISIONS

Originally hailing from Madrid, Claire moved to New York when she was 14 and never left. After being in the magazine/publishing industry for 15 years, in 2005 she was hit by an enormous passion for beekeeping and the Catskill Mountains. She realised the natural resources found there could help her create a unique honey and rye whisky, and since the humble beginnings Catskill Provisions now supply some of the best restaurants and bars in the tri-state area.

As well as whisky, she is now also making her first batches of vodka and gin, and is opening her very own distillery on International Women’s Day 2019. Claire believes that there is a lot of room for evolution of spirits and a more collaborative approach to the business between women, and that diversity will always benefit the experience.

 

ANNE BROCK – BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

Dr Anne Brock’s incredible technical experience and education has made her a visionary in gin. Holding a position on the board of directors at the Gin Guild, Anne brings her passion for gin to her role at Laverstoke Mill. After graduating from school, Anne commenced a degree in medicine but felt it wasn’t the right career path for her.

She then went on to take some time off to travel the world and when she returned to the UK started working for PhamaTelevision as a researcher, which is when she started developing her love for gin. Anne’s role at Bombay Sapphire allows her to use her scientific knowledge and experience to constantly taste, ‘nose’ and check every batch of gin before its released. She ensures that every batch is of the highest standard and quality before being enjoyed by so many around the world.

 

IZABELA PI – DUDDELL’S

Izabela Pi is the sommelier at Duddell’s in London Bridge, the first outpost of the internationally renowned Hong Kong brand. She has long been a champion of women in the alcohol industry, and this International Women’s Day Izabela has created a specially designed #WINEISAGIRL menu of ten wines produced solely by women.

Unique in their story but united in their message, each wine on the menu includes a short sentence to explain the wine’s purpose or producer’s philosophy. From Filipa Pato who aims to create authentic wines without make-up, to Stéphanie Berecz who was the first woman awarded the title ‘Winemaker of the Winemakers’ in Hungary, the faces behind the carefully selected wines pay tribute to the wine industry’s community of powerful females.

 

KIKI BRAVERMAN – PUR SPIRITS

Kiki Braverman is the founder of Pur Spirits, and believes strongly that being a woman in distilled spirits means to pioneer an industry that is guarded by male gate-keepers at every level. From funding to distribution, from retail buyers to bar buyers – all positions of power are held by male decision makers. Kiki owns one of the first women founded, funded, owned and run spirits businesses in the world.

She started Pur Spirits in 2007 when many doors were closed to women in the distilled spirits industry. To create awareness of the women pioneering this last frontier, Kiki and 9 other leading women founders have founded the Women’s Cocktail Collective to amplify the voices of all women in this industry.

 

MAJA JAWORSKA – GREY GOOSE

The mix of coffee and cocktails has always been an interesting concept for Maja. Having first started her career in the world of coffee with prestigious brand Notes, she then entered the world of cocktail mixology by working under one of the UK’s most innovative cocktail creators, Mr Lyan.

Her journey to becoming Grey Goose Vodka’s first coffee ambassador has been an interesting one. Now working with the premium vodka brand, she talks about her aim to bringing speciality coffee expertise to the London cocktail scene and bridge the gap between the two crafts.

 

CATERINA MILTENBERGER – CATERINA CREATIVE CULINARY

Caterina Miltenberger founded her company, Caterina Creative Culinary in 2016 to develop cocktails for national restaurant groups’ beverage programs. She started creating cocktails at that bar and entering competitions which put her on the map, until she eventually trained with some of the best in the business. This allowed her to be recognized by wholesalers which led to her becoming the contracted mixologist for brands such as Casa Dragones, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Moet Hennessy, and QMixers.

She believes that working with other women in the industry allows creativity that breeds success, and through this she can deliver a well-designed profitable drink that’s bartender friendly. These longstanding relationships equal financial freedom that allows her to live her life true to her values.

 

ISABELLE LEGERON MW – NEPTUNE

Isabelle Legeron MW is the highly skilled wine consultant at London restaurant Neptune. As France’s only female Master of Wine, and one of only 354 MWs worldwide, Isabelle is internationally recognised. In 2012 Isabella created RAW WINE, which has grown to become the world’s largest community of low-intervention organic, biodynamic and natural wine producers.

 

METINEE KONG SRIVILAI – BACARDI RUM

Metinee Kongsrivilai (also known better as May) is the UK Brand Ambassador for BACARDÍ Rum. May started out in the industry thirteen years ago and until recently, has bartended and managed some of the worlds most renowned and award-winning cocktail bars alongside her role as Ambassador; venues such as The Bon Vivant (Edinburgh, Scotland), Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London) and White Lyan (London).

Before her role as Ambassador, May became recognised as an established figure in the competitive UK industry after becoming a National Finalist in multiple cocktail competitions including, 42Below Cocktail World Cup (2010), Appleton Bartenders Challenge (2010) and BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition (2011). She has been a true inspiration within the industry and encouraging women to enter the trade.

 

NICOLA NICE – POMP & WHIMSY

Nicola is a Sociologist by training and spent 20 years working in consumer insights and advocating for the female consumer in a range of different industries. She then used her findings to found Pomp & Whimsy – a gin liqueur made by women, for women.

For her, being a woman in the industry has reinforced her belief that this is a great time to focus on women not only as makers, but as empowered consumers. Women’s purchasing power has not been taken seriously until now, and while changing this narrative is about giving the female consumer a voice, she believes it’s also just good business.

 

SUE HODDER, EMMA NORBIATO, REBEKAH RICHARDSON, CORRINA WRIGHT – HEAR ME ROAR

Not only have these four women individually made their mark on the Australian wine industry with their own successful wineries and careers within the drinks industry, but they are now encouraging other women to do the same. hear me roar is a wine made from Shiraz grapes harvested in the famous South Australian wine regions, and created by Sue, Emma, Rebekah, and Corrina from their own estates.

All proceeds from the sale of the wine will go towards scholarships and mentoring programs, and professional development for women in the Australian wine industry. The wine is spearheaded by the Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA), whilst the name “Hear me roar” is a reference to the song I am Woman by Australian singer Helen Reddy, which was released in 1971.