Women have shaped cocktail culture from the beginning. For Women’s History Month, we wanted to highlight a few of the women (and their drinks) that have left an unforgettable mark on how we think about and enjoy cocktails. From creating new recipes to pioneering the spirits industry, we raise a glass to the women that have made the cocktail world what it is today.
Coley’s Hanky Panky
Ada “Coley†Coleman is famous for being one of the foremost women bartenders in London by the early 1900s. She wooed patrons with her wit and creativity for over two decades. One day, a regular came in and asked for something different than the usual. She whipped up a gin concoction that the patron called, “…a real hanky-panky!†The name stuck, and so did Coley’s influence on the cocktail world.
Joy’s Old Fashioned
Joy Perrine was one part bartender, one part author and known as The Bad Girl of Bourbon. She helped put Louisville on the map as a go-to bourbon destination. She also helped turn many faithful whiskey drinkers into bourbon connoisseurs. Try her old fashioned recipe and it might do the same to you.
Joy’s Cocktail
Joy Spence isn’t just one of the most influential women master blenders. She’s the first woman to become a master blender in the spirits industry. Her chemistry background and love of cocktails gave her a unique approach to blending rum at Appleton Estate in Jamaica. And her classic rum cocktail is one of the best in the world.
Audrey’s Pegu Club
The cocktail culture revival in New York City owes a lot of thanks to Audrey Saunders. Her Pegu Club was a premier spot for new and classic cocktails alike — along with being a welcoming place for creative conversations. While COVID-19 caused the bar to close down, Audrey’s influence on mixology and her Pegu Club cocktail live on.
Events
Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection Tasting Experience
Step inside one of the Sazerac House’s intimate speakeasies for a rare and immersive tasting experience featuring the Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection, Series 1. This exclusive collection showcases five expressions recreated to reflect the styles of whiskey legally produced during Prohibition, when Buffalo Trace was one of the few distilleries permitted to operate for medicinal purposes. Guided by our expert bourbon stewards, guests will explore the history of the Prohibition era and its impact on American whiskey culture, all while enjoying a curated tasting of the complete series.
Summer Cocktail Series
Looking to impress your guests at your next summer gathering with stunning cocktails? Learn the sophisticated craft of batched cocktails in this hands-on class designed for elevated entertaining. Under the expert guidance of New Orleans drinks historian Elizabeth Pearce, guests will master the essential techniques of flavor balancing, premium ingredient selection, and large-batch preparation methods. All guests must be 21 to participate.
Walking with Whiskey
Join our distillery team for an in-depth journey through the whiskey making process. From grain to bottle, you'll walk through the steps of making Sazerac Rye Whiskey and conclude with a Sazerac Rye Cocktail Demo.
