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Slideshow
Meet the women shaping the spirits industry today
The Archivist – Carol Quinn, Archivist at Irish Distillers
Behind every household name in the world of drinks is a thoroughly thought-out marketing campaign, and often enough, behind those marketing campaigns are true stories. Distillers such as Jameson pour thousands into researching the history of their companies in the hope of finding past events, anecdotes or characters that bring their brands to life.
Carol Quinn has one of the newest jobs in Irish Distillers. Based in the Distillers Cottage in Midleton, Quinn cares for the distilling company’s historical archive, scouring the records created by the firms of John Jameson & Son, John Power & Son and the Cork Distilleries Company and, after they merged in 1966, Irish Distillers itself, dating back to the eighteenth century.
(Photo: Edith Hancock)
With university qualifications in History, Archaeology and Archival Studies and Administration, Carol worked for 16 years as an Archivist for University College Cork, before joining Irish Distillers in 2012.
Quinn manages the physical housing and maintenance of the archives. Once they are cleaned and assessed, the historical artefacts, which include everything from employee sign-in/sign-out books, marketing materials and legal documents, are transferred to one of 5 purpose-built strong rooms in the repository.
Carol’s job is then to alert colleagues to unusual or inetersting information in these records, and how it may be relevant to the current business workings of the company, whether that’s for product development or forming the basis of advertising campaigns that draw on ID’s history.
The Master Blender – Dr Rachel Barrie at GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh
(Photo: Brown Forman)
With over 26 years of experience, Rachel Barrie joined the Brown- Forman family in March 2017 as Master Blender for The GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.
Barrie, who hails from Aberdeenshire, has been in the industry for 26 years, first starting out as a research scientist at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, where she optimising flavour character in distillation and maturation.
She then moved into production at The Glenmorangie Company, where she worked on Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and Glen Moray single malts as well as Bailie Nicol Jarvie and Martin’s blends, becoming Master Blender in 2003.
While there, she also managed the stocks for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, giving her a deeper insight into a great many more distilleries. She moved to Morrison Bowmore Distillers in 2011 where she developed the whiskies for Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch single malts, also working latterly with Laphroaig and Ardmore. During her tenure as a whisky expert, Barrie has sampled more than 150,000 casks, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh for services to the whisky industry and for her understanding of the alchemy of whisky.
In December 2018, Barrie was accepted into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame, but she has received numerous accolades and awards throughout her career, in addition to judging international spirits competitions and serving on numerous industry committees.
Barrie tastes around 100 whiskies per day in her role with Brown-Forman. “As soon as I entered the industry through the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and began working on flavour, I knew that becoming a Master Blender was a goal I wanted to work towards,” she said.
“In your first distillery, you learn as you go along. It’s like having your first child: you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. Some of what you learn you apply to the second child, and more you apply to the third.”
“It’s my ideal job to combine the analysis with an enjoyment of Scotch whisky.”
The Master Distiller – Lesley Gracie at Hendricks
Born in 1956 in Hull, East Yorkshire, Lesley Gracie is the mastermind behind William Grant & Sons’ flagship gin, Hendricks. Now based close to the gin distillery’s headquarters in Girvan, Scotland, Gracie said her love of gardening, flowers and the natural world are what drew her to the botanical-based spirit.
The spirits giant recently unveiled its £13 million Hendrick’s ‘gin palace’ in Girvan, which Lesley, who holds a chemistry degree and a background in pharmaceuticals, will use to experiment and develop new variants of the cucumber and rose infused elixr, which is oft credited as being one of the leading products behind the UK’s craft gin boom. Indeed. last year the drinks business spotted a new product launch from challenger grocer Aldi – a cucumber-flavoured craft gin – which bore a striking resemblance to Hendricks.
“I’ve been distilling Hendrick’s for almost twenty years and during that time, my team and I have had the opportunity to explore and experiment on a small scale,” Gracie said on the launch of her new office.
“However, I’m thrilled and excited to take full advantage of our wonderful new distillery and begin working on a line of experimental liquids, some of which will hopefully blossom into future releases and potential new expressions of Hendrick’s”.
The Politically Active Founders -Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner
Co-founded by Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner, Washington D.C.’s Republic Restoratives is one of few female-owned and LGBT-owned distilleries in the US. Carusone’s career began in politics. She is the ex-chief of staff for former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, before joining the Obama Administration in the Department of Homeland Security, but decided to venture into drinks in 2016, launching Republic Restoratives in Washington D.C. alongside co-founder Gardner.
Many drinks firms are more politically active than in previous years, and this distillery has ideology at its core. The craft company has worked with equal right groups such as Trans legal Advocates of Washington and has sponsored fundraising evenings for politicians such as Beto O’Rourke.
The Owner – Tina Warner-Keogh of Warner Edwards
Warner Edwards, which is led by co-owner and managing director Tina Warner-Keogh, was recently featured as the only drinks brand to feature in Fast Track’s top 10 fastest growing companies led by a woman.
Born and raised in North County Dublin, Warner-Keogh was the only daughter to a potato farmer and his wife, and a sister to three brothers. The family formed Keogh’s Crisps, one of the country’s well-known snack brands which exports to 400 countries worldwide. The potato heiress joined her husband, Tom Warner, at Warner Edwards three years after the company’s launch and initially balanced a full-time job in private equity in London, whilst marketing and selling gin in her spare time. By May 2015, she officially came on board at Warner Edwards as an investor and director.
Under her stewardship, the brand has seen a 142.58% annual sales rise over the past three years. Warner-Keogh has purposefully cultivated a strong female contingent within the 45-strong workforce, with over 46% of staff members being women and 40% of the leadership team being female.
The Diversity Pioneer – Samara Rivers of Black Bourbon Society
Samara Rivers is the founder of the Black Bourbon Society (BBS), a business that goes the extra mile to help Bourbon distilleries reach out to BMEs who love whiskey. Her love for bourbon began on a family trip to New Orleans after taking the suggestion of a salesman who introduced her to his favourite spirit.
“I became an instant fan of the spirit and spent every Friday for an entire year creating and mixing new cocktails with bourbon,” Rivers said. “It was something I shared within my network locally in Oakland and across the country via social media.”
When it comes to reaching out to African American consumers, Rivers told db there is still a “lack of inclusion.”
“We help to bridge that gap by working directly brands to create consumer marketing events and experiences specifically for the upscale AA consumers who we know are conscious, bourbon enthusiasts, always looking to learn more about the whiskey industry.”
With over 4500 members, BBS has partnered with and featured several brands including Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark and Four Roses. Through exclusive events, curated dinner pairings and private whiskey tastings in cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Connecting consumers, Rivers said, is the best part of the job. “We may have members from Michigan travel to New Orleans just to attend a Black Bourbon Society event and be able to meet up with others.”
“It reminds me that we are making an impact and have created opportunities for like minded people to become friends. It keeps me grounded and helps me with the decisions that I make for the business because I know it’s so much bigger than me.”
The Mixologist – Phillipa Guy, Senior Bartender at American Bar at the Savoy
The culinary world has made huge stride in the past decade to dismantle its patriarchal structures. There are more Michelin-awarded chefs than there have ever been before, but when it comes to getting women in more senior roles in the kitchen, there’s still work to be done.
The same is true at the bar, but a number of women are smashing the glass ceiling and taking on historic roles in hospitality. Philippa Guy was hired as the senior bartender at The Savoy’s famous American Bar in the Summer 2018, the first female in this role for a century.
The role, which was once held previously by Ada Coleman (a historic figure in the world of mixology), was awarded to the 24-year-old after she spent two years working her way up the ranks.
Guy also published her first cocktail book, Let’s Get Fizzical before Christmas 2018, which contains over 50 recipes which incorporate sparkling wines, Prosecco and Champagne
In a city where female bartenders are in the minority, Guy has managed to break gender barriers at such a young age through sheer determination and considerable passion.
The Brand Advocacy Boss – Shervene Shahbazkhani of Bacardi Brown-Forman
Bacardi rum’s former Northern Europe brand ambassador, Shervene Shahbazkhani was promoted to the role of head of brand advocacy in 2016. She is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of bartender engagement activity for key brands within Bacardi’s portfolio, including Bacardi rum, Grey Goose vodka and Bombay Sapphire gin.
A former history student, Shahbazkhani told the drinks business she very quickly fell in love with the “history and sociology of spirits.”
“I also love the level of creativity that our industry has. Not just from the day to day drinks that bartenders make, but the bar concepts and events. It’s also amazing to be part of an industry that shapes trends and consumer tastes. Many of these are born in the trade and it’s amazing to see them grow.”
One of her inspirations in the industry is DrinkUp founder Hannah Sharman-Cox. “What I admire about Hannah is she never rests on her laurels- always evolves, improves and evaluates. She is a doer, and I trust her conviction. She is also a great role model for many women.”
Companies like Bacardi, she said, have an “absolute responsibility to set an example of an equal, fair environment.
“I believe the key to creating gender equality is not just about actively hiring more women or men to make it equal, but to provide a working environment that both men and women aspire to.”