At Whiskies of the World, we are proud to support women who are raising the bar in whiskey not just today, but everyday.
In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a round up of the bad-ass women running the whiskey world today!
Starting out as a professional ballerina, Allison Parc took center stage in a new role in life. At the mere age of23, she founded her own whisky company, Brenne Whisky, and quickly became a force to be reckoned within today’s global whiskey world. Finding a niche in the industry with her French single malt, Parc has successfully created the first, organic single malt to be aged exclusively in new French Limousin Oak barrels and Cognac casks.
Becky Harris has easily become one of the most prominent female whisky makers today, putting Virginia rye-whisky back on the map. Former chemical engineer turned start up founder and whisky distiller, Becky and her husband, Scott, co-founded Catoctin Creek in 2009 and became owners of the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since Prohibition, making her the county’s first female chief distiller in almost a CENTURY!! Known for their signatures ryes, Becky has utilized her technical skills and love of the craft to develop some of the finest in Virginia and beyond.
Another distillery we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts, Uncle Nearest was inspired by the first African-American master distiller, Nathan “Nearest” Green founded and led by Fawn Weaver. Inspired by Green’s story, a former slave who taught Jack Daniel the craft of whisky, yet was often lost in history, Weaver re-located to Tennessee to make his story known. She collaborated with his descendants to create a product that would honor his legacy, debuting the Nearest Green Distillery in 2019. As the first Black woman to run a major whiskey brand, Weaver and her all-female leadership team have created a true Tennessee whiskey to savor that has gained attention worldwide. Under Weaver’s leadership,Uncle Nearest has become the fastest growing independent American Whiskey brand in U.S. history. Under2 years on the market, Uncle Nearest expanded to all 50 states and 12 countries.
With 30 years in the industry under her belt, Dr. Rachel Barrie is a true master of her craft and with reason. Beginning her whisky career as a research scientist at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, Barrie has made her mark on production and distilling for a number of beloved whisky institutions over the years including Ardbeg, Glen Moray, the Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and Bowmore to name a few. With vast expertise in managing multiple distilleries at once, she is now assumed the role of Master Blender for Benriach, GlenDronach, AND Glenglassaugh. Needless to say, she is the definition of a whiskey powerhouse.
As founder & CEO of Boston Harbor Distillery, Rhonda Kallman has mastered in locally crafted, small-batch spirits in her hometown of Boston, with a particular focus on... yep, you guessed it....Whiskey! After decades of making a name for herself in the world of craft beer, Kallman shifted gears and focused her efforts to produce her first love, whiskey. Converting an old historic space in Boston Harbor into the home for her new distillery, Boston Harbour Distillery has become one of the leading, regional distilleries producing some of the finest, hand-craft spirits out of New England.
Created in late 2020 during the height of the pandemic, TK Burtin co-launched Red Hazel Whiskey with the intent of spicing up the whiskey industry with a new kind of rye. Burtin has become known for crafting a premium rye whiskey with a light cinnamon finish worth putting on your radar (or bar shelf). Partnering with her brother on this passion project turned family-owned business, this woman and minority-owned brand has flourished since its inception.
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