Women Who Whiskey
About Us
Women Who Whiskey is an experimental whiskey club. Both for amateurs and connoisseurs, wWw is a global organization dedicated to creating a space where our members can cultivate their passions for whiskey, learning, and community. With a focus on inclusion, wWw aims to foster an inviting and educational environment for all those who have historically been left out of the traditionally male-dominated world of whiskey.
Membership is open to all and provides the opportunity to learn about spirits and cocktail culture and to join a worldwide network of like-minded people with a taste for curiosity and delicious drams. In 2024, Women Who Whiskey celebrated 13 years of uniting whiskey lovers around the globe. Cheers!
History & Philosophy
When I moved to New York in 2010, it was at the epicenter of the whiskey revival and speakeasy boom. You couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a trendy new cocktail bar with a whiskey book. New to the city, I eagerly set out to explore what the city had to offer. But as I made my way deeper into the whiskey world, as an enthusiastic novice, I was often met with condescending comments and made to feel excluded from what I quickly came to understand was meant to be a “man’s domain.” Whiskey drinkers were expected to already know everything about whiskey to be accepted into the space, but I struggled to find a community where I could ask questions and expand my expertise. Unsurprisingly, nearly all the women I met shared similar experiences.
In 2011, tired of hearing, “wow, I didn’t know women drank brown liquor,” or “that’s a strong drink for a little lady,” or “wouldn’t you rather see the wine list?” I gathered a group of friends who felt the same way and started organizing outings to whiskey bars around New York; I wanted us to be able to explore our city—and enjoy our whiskey—in a community that was friendly and fun.
Over a decade later, wWw brings together nearly twenty thousand members across two dozen chapters in five countries—and counting! Every month we receive applications to start new chapters around the world. Wherever they are, we provide our members with a space to enjoy and learn about whiskey (and other spirits) at innovative and educational events—free of mansplaining.
Julia Ritz Toffoli
wWw Founder & Principal
