It's not just the smooth Tennessee whiskey that's winning accolades; it's also the women running the show. Shaking up traditions in an industry famed for its male dominance, female distillers in Tennessee are taking the lead and crafting spirits that toast to progress. Celebrations are in order this Women's History Month as these pioneers are recognized for charting new territories in a field steeped in heritage.
At the helm of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in Shelbyville is Fawn Weaver, an entrepreneur and CEO with a multi-faceted career, including a New York Times bestselling author credit, "I love that I get to be creative,” she said, according to Tennessee’s Tourism Department. Her partner in distillation, Victoria Eady Butler, is a Master Distiller with a family connection to the very roots of Tennessee whiskey. Butler’s great-great-grandfather taught none other than Jack Daniel himself.
Over in Tullahoma, Nicole Austin has commanded the stills at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. as their Master Distiller since 2018. Austin has been the force behind revered releases, including the George Dickel Bottled-in-Bond and Dickel Bourbon. Meanwhile, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery pays tribute to Louisa Nelson, an early whiskey baroness who navigated the industry after her husband's death in 1891. Today, a line of liqueurs honors her at the Nashville-based enterprise.
Devin Walden, who cut her teeth at Woodford Reserve and now presides over Big Machine Distillery, is tackling the craft head-on, from mash cooking to production finesse. Not too far from there, at Leiper's Fork Distillery, Head Distiller Kendra Anderson is committed to fine, small-batch whiskies that boast traditional craftsmanship – with a mere 25,000 gallons produced annually, as per the Tennessee’s Tourism Department.
These women distillers are not just an integral part of Tennessee's renowned whiskey culture; they're leaders shaping the future with first-rate libations. Their stories and spirits will be center stage at "A Sip of History" on April 6, an event hosted by Andrew Jackson's Hermitage and the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Visitors can expect an afternoon of whiskey tasting and live music set against the backdrop of Nashville's presidential homesite, as reported by the Tennessee’s Tourism Department.
