A few years ago I wrote an article about sexism in the drinks industry, you can find that here. I called out some insane incidents I’d experienced in my early career, including a work colleague climbing into my hotel room window via a balcony and a CMO in the USA showing up at my hotel room door and banging on it until I called security after a work dinner. I never said a word as nobody would have listened I laughed it off and got on with my work because that’s what you did back then. (Sidenote Imagine your 26 year old daughter having to deal with that at work today???)
That was the early 2000’s an era in which Jim Murray built his reputation and garnered his following. So, here we are in 2020, a weird time. A time for re-sets and a time to maybe take a long hard look at the whiskey industry in the context of well, 2020.
Mr. Murray’s recent vilification in whiskey and industry circles has been widely reported and Becky Paskin did a great job in highlighting this and igniting this spark so I won’t delve into it here.
I want to talk about the larger issue which has sparked such a furore here and why it has struck such a chord with so many.
The larger issue is the entrenched sexism that still continues to exist in the whiskey industry very specifically. Whiskey is one of the last corners of the drinks industry, where its still ok to dismiss or insult or harass women who work in the industry or who have an interest in the category as consumers. Now, before you mentally dismiss me as a “woke” know this. I am a Gen Xer I was born in the 70’s on a farm in rural Ireland, I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s lived all over the world worked in multinational corporations and I’ve seen some things in my time and there are things in society right now that I honestly don’t understand 100%. However, I accept that the world has changed, society has moved on. Society has and always will ultimately dictate how we behave as a species. Society is humanities’s way of shaping the world for the greater good of all. I choose the greater good as I want to be a part of a society or a community and contribute positively to it. That means I have to change my perspective and examine my opinions sometimes.
Why then in the world of whiskey are we so in denial about making this change? I do a lot of work with Women Who Whiskey a society in the USA with 15,000 members that was set up SPECIFICALLY as a space for women to freely talk about whiskey without being shouted down and having their opinions belittled or being told they are asking stupid questions. Read that again, the only reason the society exists AT ALL is that women found they could not get a word in edgeways with whiskey guys in the room, they felt uncomfortable and unwelcome in the world of whiskey. 15,000 whisky enthusiasts can’t all be misconstruing that now can they?
Why do women who work at J.J. Corry with me have to endure leering comments at in -store tastings, and call over security when they are working at whiskey shows? Why are they asked if they actually like whiskey or if they drink whiskey when they work for a whiskey company? Why does the only male member of our team NEVER get asked that?
Why do I get asked that? I founded a goddam whiskey company FFS…..
Why am I asked on the reg. if my Father or Husband owns the business? Why has someone commented that The Gael “probably smells like fish” in online “banter” and why last year at a whiskey show were my staff asked “Is This The Angry Lesbian Stand?” by a consumer holding his glass out 100% expecting a pour after making the comment.
Why? because its allowed to happen, and is considered just a part of the industry. Bad behaviour goes unchecked at whiskey shows meaning women working there often feel unsafe, ask a women whose worked a show she will have many stories to tell.
Well, I’m done guys, I’m over it. The commentary around the Whisky Bible is in reality not about sexualised whiskey reviews or Jim Murray’s out there personality its about the fact that he is, like it or not, an influential person in the industry for many and that is evident in the many who have come out to defend him recently. His opinions and attitude have until now carried weight with many folks interested in the industry and they are ‘Influenced’ by him and his words.
Knowing a lot about any subject, including whiskey does not preclude you from behaving poorly or demeaning women in person or otherwise. Until the industry calls this out, at the highest level it will be sanctioned and condoned and we’ll just have to keep on calling over security to our table at whiskey shows.
It is time for the industry and that’s all of us, Makers, Sellers, Journalists, Consumers and whiskey show runners to take a stand. Its time to call out and not tolerate this kind of demeaning commentary and behaviour towards women working in the whiskey world, but first we have to acknowledge it’s an actual problem that affects women who are simply trying to build a career in an industry they love.
The fundamental point here is that women working in the whiskey industry and women who have an interest and passion for whiskey have the right to be treated with respect within the whiskey community, just like your Mother, Aunt, Daughter or Wife have that right in their own lives and jobs.
There is nothing woke about that its just a basic human ask.
If you disagree with it and I would really like to know why? What is stopping you from changing your attitude for the greater good of the whiskey community?
Let me know in the comments below.
J.J. corry irish whiskey 
I read this, horrified about your experiences. I have no words and no use for anyone that might dismiss my interest in whiskey. It’s insane that you, we, need to ask for respect. Nothing but admiration for you, Louise! Keep moving forward. Sláinte!
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Behaviour like this is embarrassing to any right thinking male. Your post is spot on. What I wrote in my blog was the lack of humility from Murray surrounding the response to the criticism. He could have said sorry and vowed to change. The fact he didn’t suggests he won’t change. Those who support him need to reflect on their position.
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Well said! The world has moved on and Diversity and Inclusion starts with respect for female colleagues across all society.
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All I have to say is that I can’t understand why women can’t be accepted in the whisky industry(and others), and have to be subject to degrading things like the examples you gave in your write-up. When it comes to whisky women know a thing or two about it(you’re a prime example) just as do men . I’m a member of a facebook group for Irish Whisky set up by a friend of yours, Mareike in Germany and she knows what’s what, as do the ladies who are in the group and I as a man have no probs in learning from their knowledge, why should I!! . I also watch “Swedish whisky girl” on YouTube as its always interesting to hear a woman’s perspective! So, let’s just hope we get rid of the sexism and work, and enjoy whisky as one community. Slán
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Great read Louise and I agree with every word.
I entered the whisky industry 40 years ago when women were only allowed to be admin in the office. During the intervening time there has been a transformation in the industry at production levels, certainly in Scotland, with women at all levels in production and spirit supply as well as technical support roles. I like to think that I have done my little bit in helping as I realised early on that the women were having to perform harder to achieve the same level and so it made sense that they were often the better candidate for most jobs.
I hate that women still have to put up with this form of bullying and possible assault, not only in the whisky industry but in other sectors too, and it does require everyone to keep calling it out when it happens and support those who it happens too and those who call it out.
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