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
The Weller Classroom Experience
Step into the story of one of bourbon’s most enduring families and discover how William Larue Weller helped pioneer the wheated style that would later inspire the Van Winkle legacy. This guided tasting explores four expressions—Special Reserve, CYPB, Full Proof, and Single Barrel—tracing Weller’s journey from the days of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery through the industry’s quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s to its modern revival under Buffalo Trace. Guests will nose, taste, and compare each whiskey in an elegant classroom setting, uncovering how proof, age, and history intertwine to shape the signature richness of Weller and the heritage of American bourbon.
E.H. Taylor Bourbon Experience
Experience the craftsmanship and legacy of E.H. Taylor through an exclusive guided tasting featuring five of the distillery's most sought-after expressions. Guests will enjoy pours of E.H. Taylor line showcasing the remarkable range and innovation of the Taylor portfolio. Through each pour and discussion, discover how Taylor's relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the bourbon industry and created innovations whose influence can still be found in distilleries around the world
Meet the Distiller: Small Group Tour & Tasting
Step behind the scenes with the artisans who bring Sazerac’s legendary spirits to life. “Meet the Distiller” is an exclusive, hour-long experience that begins with a private VIP tour through the Sazerac House distillery and historic Apothecary. Guests will enjoy insider access, behind-the-barrel stories, and a rare glimpse into the craft and science of our production process. Following the tour, you’ll join our distiller in their private tasting room for a curated guided tasting of four Sazerac expressions — hand-selected and presented by the distiller. This intimate setting allows guests to explore the flavors, techniques, and traditions that define our spirits.
