Did you know that the hand-dipped red wax seal on Maker’s Mark Bourbon was created by Margaret Samuels, the first woman to be inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2014? Or that Scotland’s Bessie Williamson, worked her way up from secretary to distillery manager in just four years at Laphroaig and saved the distillery from financial ruin after WWII?
These fun facts and many others surrounding trailblazing women in whisky will be discussed by Whisky Sommelier Stacy Kyle along with Sons of Vancouver Distiller’s Jenna Diubaldo, Freelance Distiller Terri Lam, and Emma Coady, a Single Malt Specialist from Whyte & Mackay Whisky at the Miami-themed Flamingo Room on Commercial Drive on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Start with a whisky cocktail and then enjoy a curated whisky tasting highlighting five different whiskies presented by these modern women in whisky. Save your questions and ask this panel of experts anything about whisky or women in spirits and distilling, all while enjoying light bites paired with Sea Cider’s Vancouver-Island crafted Rumrunner Cider, a cider aged in rum barrels that were previously Bourbon barrels.
Proceeds from this evening go to support Les Dames d’Escoffier BC’s scholarship program, funding the future for women in hospitality, including courses in distilling and spirits studies.
About Stacy Kyle
Stacy Kyle is a prominent figure in the whisky industry, known for her pioneering efforts in hosting the first-ever Women’ s-Only Masterclass at the Victoria Whisky Festival. With experience leading over 50 masterclasses, Stacy’s expertise and passion for whisky shine through as she educates and engages with enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
A Certified Bourbon Professional, Stacy also holds a WSET Level 2 Spirits award with distinction and specialized certificates in gin and Irish whiskey from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy. In 2023, she enhanced her industry involvement as a mentee of the Our Whisky Foundation.
You can find Stacy at Skye Avenue Lounge at 13450 102 Ave #190 in Surrey where she’s tending to the enormous whisky collection, the biggest in North America