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
Wheated Bourbon Origins Experience
Explore the legacy of Pappy Van Winkle and the innovation that transformed bourbon by replacing rye with wheat, creating the smooth, approachable style known today as wheated bourbon. Enjoy a guided tasting featuring three elevated expressions of Weller, the Original Wheated Bourbon, before concluding with a rare taste of one of the world's most sought-after bourbons. Discover the history, craftsmanship, and lasting influence behind bourbon's most iconic wheated whiskey tradition.
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
Smugglers and Spirits
This program explores the people who operated along the edges of the law in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, including pirates, privateers, smugglers, river bandits, bootleggers, and other notorious figures. Through historical storytelling and beverage interpretation, guests learn how Louisiana's waterways, ports, and frontier conditions created opportunities for both commerce and crime. Cocktail pours are incorporated throughout the program to connect the stories to the spirits that shaped the region's culture and economy.
Science of Spirits
Shake up your cocktail knowledge with a guided tasting featuring premium spirits and handcrafted cocktails, including Sazerac Rye, Jung & Wulff Guyana Rum, a Clarified Whiskey Sour, a Coconut Oil-Washed Rum Old Fashioned, and a Buffalo Trace Paper Plane.
House of Cocktails Class
Discover how a well-chosen liqueur can transform a simple drink into a show-stopping cocktail. Guests will explore the history of classic cocktails while unlocking endless possibilities with the Sazerac House of Cocktail line of liqueurs. Learn simple techniques, flavor-building tips, and creative applications that will transform the way you mix. Sip. Experiment and leave inspired to elevate every cocktail you make.
Behind The Bar
Go beyond following recipes and learn how to build a cocktail that's truly your own. Behind the Bar is an interactive old fashioned cocktail class where you'll explore how small ingredient choices create dramatically different flavor profiles. Rather than making the same drink as everyone else, you'll customize your cocktail by selecting from a curated range of premium spirits, sweeteners, bitters, and garnishes. Your experience begins with a welcome cocktail crafted by the instructor before you step “behind the bar” to experiment with your own creation
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.
