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
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The Legends of Buffalo Trace Distillery: Weller Grid Tasting
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month! The Legends of Buffalo Trace Distillery Series offers guests an intimate setting to dive deep into the history of a bourbon giant whose legacy has shaped the Sazerac bourbon portfolio. This special tasting class invites guests to sip and savor our most prolific, award-winning bourbons made at Sazerac owned Buffalo Trace Distillery, including Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107 and Weller Full Proof. Must be 21+ to participate.
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Bourbon for Beginners
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month! Join The Sazerac House for this welcoming, encouraging and exploratory introduction into the world of bourbon. This guided tasting class will teach bourbon beginners how to nose, taste and enjoy bourbon like an expert. Must be 21+ to participate.
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The Legends of Buffalo Trace Distillery: Blanton’s Grid Tasting
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month! The Legends of Buffalo Trace Distillery Series offers guests an intimate setting to dive deep into the history of a bourbon giant whose legacy has shaped the Sazerac bourbon portfolio. This special tasting class invites guests to sip and savor our most prolific, award-winning bourbons made at Sazerac owned Buffalo Trace Distillery, including Blanton's, Blanton's Gold and Elmer T. Lee. Must be 21+ to participate.
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Drink & Learn: Bourbon County to Bourbon Street
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month! Join The Sazerac House and Drinks Historian Elizabeth Peace as we discover how bourbon made its way from Kentucky down to New Orleans. Learn how this spirit shaped New Orleans drinking culture as you taste a special flight of Sazerac portfolio bourbon. Must be 21+ to participate.
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