For the makers and cocktail shakers, the distillers and blenders, the communicators, the side hustlers, the trailblazers, the corporates, the independents, the influencers; for those who have made it and those who are breaking through, for the fighters, the dreamers, the mothers, the lovers, the friends, the sisters, the daughters, the carers – whatever you do, however you identify, whatever your size, shape, hue, belief – women/womxn everywhere, keep on doing what you’re doing – you’re absolutely awesome.
In no particular order on International Women’s Day we’re raising a glass, sending big love and nuff respect to some of our favourite ladies in the world of drinks. And there are plenty more where these came from:
Dawn Davies MW (Head Drinks Buyer, The Whisky Exchange); Georgie Bell (Global Malts Ambassador, Bacardi); Monica Berg (co-owner Tayer + Elementary); Simona Bianco (Global Marketing Manager, Disaronno), Shervene Blackburn (Head of Brand Advocacy, Bacardi); Lynn House (Portfolio Mixologist at Heaven Hill Brands); Jenna Ba, (Bulleit Bourbon Brand Ambassador); Maura Milia (Deputy Bar Manager, the Connaught); Dr Anne Brock (Master Distiller, Bombay Sapphire); Elayne Duff (Educator, consultant, host of Celebrating the Bartender); Karine Cullimore (Brand Ambassador, Patrón Spirits); Tess Øptimus (Bar owner/bartender Flying Dutchmen); Ms Franky Marshall (Spirits Educator); Hannah Lanfear (Director, The Mixing Class); Joy Spence (Master Blender, Appleton Estates); Anistatia Miller (Historian, curator and director Mixellany); Audrey Saunders (bartending legend); Carina Soto Velasquez (co-founder Quixotic Projects); Lorena Vásquez (Master Blender, Ron Zacapa); Andrea Montague (European Whisky Ambassador, Bacardi); Lia Jones (Executive Director, Diversity in Wine and Spirits); Claire Warner (co-founder Æcorn Drinks); Alexis Brown and Ariel Neal (Founders, Directors, Creating A Stir); (Hanna Lee (President and founder, Hanna Lee Communications); Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne (Directors London Cocktail Week/HANDS London); Metinee Kongsrivilai (Global Digital Brand Manager, Incubation Brands, Bacardi); Lynnette Marrero (bartender, consultant and co-founder of Speed Rack); Ivy Mix (head bartender and co-owner of Leyenda; co-founder of Speed Rack); Jillian Vose (Beverage Director, The Dead Rabbit); Rosie Stimpson (co-founder Nightjar, Oriole and Swift); Bannie Kang World Class 2019 Global Winner; co-owner Bar Mu, Taipei); Anna Sebastian (bar manager, Artesian); Paola Mencarelli (Founder, Florence Cocktail Week); Mia Johansson (co-owner Bar Swift), Lauren Mote (co-founder Bittered Sling, Diageo Reserve & World Class Global Cocktailian), Julie Reiner (owner Clover Club, co-owner Leyanda), Louise McGuane (Founder J. J. Cory Irish Whiskey), Leslie Gracie (Master Distiller, Hendrick’s Gin), Camille Vidal (Founder, La Maison Wellness),Charlotte Voisey (Global Head of Ambassadors, William Grant & Sons), Miranda Dickson, Global Brand Director, Absolut Elyx.
Sister acts
Cocktails & Create
That’s the big-up side of things, now for the action: On International Women’s Day (8th March) at 7-8.30pm, the short-haired one in this double-act will be joining a panel of fabulous women from the drinks and art worlds for Cocktails & Create, part of the Bombay Sapphire Stir Creativity platform (see photograph above).
Hosted by Katy Hessel, Art Curator and Founder of The Great Women Artists network, the evening brings contemporary artists Faye Wei Wei and Charlotte Edey together with Anna Sebastian from the Artesian bar, Bombay Sapphire Master Distiller, Dr Anne Brock and Ms Cocktail Lover to chat about creativity, connection and cocktails.
Expect talk about creative experiences – whether the focus has been on experimenting with new creative mediums, taking inspiration from this new world era and projecting optimism, or simply exploring new routes and channels to connect with audiences.
It’s an online event, (of course it is) and it’s ticketed but and it’s a big but, you can donate whatever amount you can afford in the knowledge that 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting female fellows at the Artist Benevolent Fund.
Guests are invited to buy a bottle of Bombay Sapphire to mix up the two bespoke cocktails that will be showcased and sipped during the evening (see recipes and ingredients below). All ingredients available from major supermarkets.
Get your tickets here
The Sunshine G&T
50 ml Bombay Sapphire
50 ml Plenish turmeric shot
150 ml tonic water
Orange slice for garnish
The Butterfly
30 ml Bombay Sapphire
25 ml cloudy apple juice
25 ml lemon juice
7.5 ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
20 ml Butterfly tea
Celebrate Her
Anna Sebastian pops up again, this time in Celebrate Her, an initiative she set up two years ago. While it was initially devised as a series of networking events for women in the drinks industry, this year it’s going big-time, relaunching as a non-profit organisation to provide financial support for womxn in hospitality to further their careers. The programme goes live in June but for IWD, Anna is partnering with Glenfiddich and inviting the industry to raise their glasses in a special toast. It’s called ‘Choose To Challenge’, which is more than a nifty hashtag, it’s a pledge to call out gender bias and inequality. Be part of the movement by joining Anna and industry friends by raising a glass at 5pm on 8th March @CelebrateHer.
For more details about the programme, see celebrateher.me
Double Dutch
There’s more much needed assistance for females who are either already bartending or thinking about entering the profession. Joyce and Raissa de Haas, owners of tonic and mixer brand Double Dutch, are launching a scholarship programme which will take in professional training, mentoring and financial assistance. Applications are open and close on 8th May 2021. Successful candidates will be announced shortly afterwards, and training and mentoring sessions will commence in July.
Find out more at doubledutchdrinks.com/scholarships-application
#InternationalWomensDay
#WomenRock
