Bourbon Women is thrilled to announce nominations are now open for the WOW (Women of Whiskey) Awards with significant support from the Bourbon Women Foundation. Prepare for an extraordinary evening as the industry’s leading women and supporters gather at the Bourbon Women SIPosium on Aug. 16 to celebrate and honor the outstanding women making strides in the whiskey industry.
The first-of-its-kind award ceremony recognize the remarkable women who are leaders in their craft. These nominees provide opportunities for connection and community in the whiskey industry, uplift and develop the women and underrepresented members of their team and represent the very best of the talented women in the industry. As a pioneer in supporting female bourbon enthusiasts and the first to organize a consumer conference for women, Bourbon Women takes immense pride in presenting the WOW Awards, continuing their commitment to honoring the achievements of women in the spirits world.
Brands, companies, and individuals will have the opportunity to nominate deserving women who embody the essence of excellence in each award category. Nominations are now open at the official WOW Awards page. Nominations will be open until Friday, May 31, at midnight PT. A distinguished panel of industry experts will carefully select the winners.
The 2024 categories include:
• Master Distiller/Production Manager of the Year
• Master Blender of the Year
• Woman-Owned Brand of the Year
• Brand Ambassador of the Year
• Spirits Writer of the Year
• Spirits Influencer/Podcaster of the Year
• Bartender of the Year
• Spirits Diversity Program of the Year
• Mike Keyes Ally of the Year
• Legacy Achievement Award of the Year
During the selection process, two finalists will be chosen for each category. The finalists will have the honor of attending the WOW Awards as special guests of Bourbon Women. Companies who nominate the extraordinary women, alongside industry members and consumers, will be invited to purchase seats or tables at the reception and awards program.
Heather Wibbels, managing director of Bourbon Women, said of the awards, “Our inaugural WOW Awards in 2023 honored the top names in the whiskey industry, from Rebecca Harris of Catoctin Creek with the Legacy award to Alex Castle of Old Dominick as Master Distiller of the Year and Heather Greene of Milam and Greene as Master Blender of the Year. We know that female excellence abounds in the industry and hope that the companies and individuals help us find and honor these women with nominations of their strongest trailblazers and innovators.” For more information on the awards and to nominate those who meet the criteria, please visit the Bourbon Women/WOW (Women of Whiskey) Awards website at https://bourbonwomen.org/women-of whiskey-wow-awards/. Information about WOW (Women of Whiskey) Awards sponsorship opportunities can be found at https://bourbonwomen.org/2024-siposium-sponsorship/. Join us as we celebrate the exceptional women shaping the whiskey industry with their unwavering passion and contributions.