Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey

by Fred Minnick

Overview

Shortly after graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1934, Elizabeth “Bessie” Williamson began working as a temporary secretary at the Laphroaig Distillery on the Scottish island Islay. Williamson quickly found herself joining the boys in the tasting room, studying the distillation process, and winning them over with her knowledge of Scottish whisky.

After the owner of Laphroaig passed away, Williamson took over the prestigious company and became the spokesperson in America for the entire Scotch whisky industry. Impressing clients and showing her passion as the Scotch Whisky Association’s trade ambassador, she soon gained fame within the industry.

Whiskey Women tells the tales of the women who created the industry, from Mesopotamia’s first beer brewers and distillers to America’s rough-and-tough Prohibition bootleggers. Women have long distilled, marketed, and owned significant shares in spirits companies, including Bushmills, Johnnie Walker, and Maker’s Mark. Williamson is one of many influential women who greatly influenced Scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskey. Until now their stories have remained untold.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612345642
Publisher:	Potomac Books
Publication date:	10/01/2013
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Wall Street Journal best-selling author Fred Minnick, once an army journalist in Iraq, writes the award-winning American Whiskey column for Tasting Panel Magazine and Toasting the Hunt column for Covey Rise. A regular contributor to Caviar Affair, Costco Connection, Whisky Magazine, and Whisky Advocate, Minnick has written widely about the spirits industry, traveling around the world covering everything from Limoncello in Sorrento, Italy, to Malbec wine in Mendoza, Argentina. Minnick is a member of the Author’s Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Meridith May, publisher of Tasting Panel, calls Minnick “one of the best whiskey storytellers in the business.”
 

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations viii

A Note to Readers ix

Introduction xi

1 Before Whiskey 1

2 The First Distillations 10

3 Tough Irish Women 16

4 Early Scotch Whisky Women 31

5 Early American Women 41

6 The Targeted and Early Marketers 56

7 Temperance Women 63

8 Women Moonshiners and Bootleggers in Prohibition 72

9 Repeal Women Saving Whiskey 88

10 The Post-Prohibition Legal Battles 93

11 Post-Prohibition Women Bootleggers 104

12 Whiskey's Progressive Side 110

13 The Lady of Laphroaig 120

14 Modern Women 129

15 Organizing the Whiskey Effort 144

16 For Women, by Women 153

Acknowledgments 163

Notes 165

Bibliography 179

Index 185

Editorial Reviews

"Forget umbrellas in cocktails: Kentucky journalist Fred Minnick shows us how the fairer sex established liquor techniques, culture, and tastes as we know it today."—Damon Brown, Esquire


“[Whiskey Women] is an important examination of liquor history and offers a number of profiles of trailblazers. Inspiring.”—Lew Bryson, the Daily Beast
 

From the Publisher

“Fred Minnick gives us an entertaining look at booze’s little-known history—including its links to childhood medicine, witchcraft, and the eighteenth-century mail order bride business. This book goes down smooth.”—A. J. Jacobs, New York Times best-selling author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

A. J. Jacobs

“The known history of whiskey changes with Whiskey Women. Fred Minnick has dug deep and come up with gold on the tremendous contribution women have made at each step in the history and evolution of this much-storied beverage. Whiskey Women is a real game changer.”—Davin de Kergommeaux, award-winning author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert

Davin de Kergommeaux

“The first of its kind, Whiskey Women chronicles the great contributions of women who, like myself, take enormous pride in our work, furthering excellence in the Whiskey trade. Fred Minnick’s thought-provoking and passionate portrayal is nothing less than exceptional!”—Lauren Shayne Mayer, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America, Ltd.

Lauren Shayne Mayer

“Let me raise my glass and say ‘Cheers to Fred Minnick,’ to one of my favorite whiskey cohorts and fellow bourbon magician. Fred takes us on a historical stroll, giving a voice to the women for whom whiskey was a way of life. I’ll drink to that.”—Lee Anne Wong, former producer of Top Chef and host of the Cooking Channel’s Food Crawl

Lee Anne Wong

“In the testosterone-laden world of whiskey, Fred Minnick finally gives women their due in his lively and entertaining book. This is an important contribution to the history of whiskey.”—Connie Kam, executive vice president of Michter’s Distillery

Connie Kam

“Brewsters, blenders, bootleggers, moonshiners, distillers—whatever your favorite spirit, little-known and highly influential women in Europe and the United States have helped create it, sell it, and fight for and against its consumption. In his lively and exhaustively-researched book, Fred Minnick finally brings these fascinating whiskey women to well-deserved light. Slainte!”—Caitlin Kelly, author of Blown Away: American Women and Guns

Caitlin Kelly

"[Whiskey Women is] an enjoyable read of thoughtfully-assembled facts and stories illuminating the forgotten women of apothecaries and distilleries past."—Virginia Miller, Liquor.com

Liquor.com - Virginia Miller

"Deeply researched and takes an interesting angle (the role of women) as a way to talk about whiskey from a fresh perspective."—Kara Newman, Tipple Sheet

Tipple Sheet - Kara Newman

"A book that's well worth buying."—Reid Mitenbuler, Drinks

Drinks - Reid Mitenbuler

"This enjoyable book leaves readers feeling a way they’re likely not accustomed to after such a wild, whiskey soaked ride: enlightened."—Jen A. Miller, American Way

American Way - Jen A. Miller

"This is a great book. Whether you are into whiskey, history or both this deserves a place on your book shelf."—Eric Burke, Bourbon Guy.com

Bourbon Guy.com - Eric Burke

"Whether you're a hop-head or a spirit imbiber, Whiskey Women is an entertaining and unexpected look at the role of women in the spirits industry."—Lindsey Kate Reynolds, Southern Foodways Alliance

Southern Foodways Alliance - Lindsey Kate Reynolds

"Forget umbrellas in cocktails: Kentucky journalist Fred Minnick shows us how the fairer sex established liquor techniques, culture, and tastes as we know it today."—Damon Brown, Esquire

Esquire - Damon Brown

“[Whiskey Women] is an important examination of liquor history and offers a number of profiles of trailblazers. Inspiring.”—Lew Bryson, the Daily Beast
 

Daily Beast