Women Behind Whisky

Bianka Zongorova

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Society & Culture

The whisky world has always had women in it. You just haven’t been introduced yet. Each episode, we sit down with a woman who works in the whisky industry — distillers, blenders, brand founders, and more — and let her speak for herself. This is about changing the conversation, one woman at a time.

Aug 5

Adele Bouter – Building Isle of Raasay Distillery Across Europe

What does it take to help build one of Scotland's most exciting young distilleries? In Episode 7 of Women Behind Whisky, I sit down with Adele Bouter, European Sales & Marketing Executive at Isle of Raasay Distillery, to talk about whisky, travel, career growth, and what it's really like representing an independent Scotch whisky distillery across Europe. Originally from France and now based in Scotland, Adele shares how a single dram completely changed her perception of whisky, why she fell in love with Scottish culture, and how she found her place in one of the world's most traditional industries. Together we discuss: 🥃 Adele's whisky journey—from whisky & Coke to single malts 🥃 Why Dalwhinnie changed everything 🥃 Life and work at Isle of Raasay Distillery 🥃 Building an award-winning whisky destination 🥃 Whisky tourism and the unique spirit of the Isle of Raasay 🥃 Women working in Scotch whisky 🥃 The reality of whisky festivals and customer interactions 🥃 Marketing premium whisky in today's changing market 🥃 Why younger drinkers matter for the future of Scotch 🥃 Local barley, terroir and innovation 🥃 How a distillery can transform an island community 🥃 Advice for anyone starting a career in whisky This conversation is honest, thoughtful and full of fascinating stories—from geological wonders and island life to whisky production, sales, branding and the future of Scotch. Whether you're a whisky enthusiast, industry professional, or simply curious about the people behind the bottles, this episode offers a unique perspective from someone helping shape the future of modern Scotch whisky. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Jul 13

One Woman. Three Whisky Worlds. | Meet Julie Hamilton

Whisky is about far more than what's in the glass. In this episode of Women Behind Whisky, I sit down with Julie Hamilton to explore how passion, community, and genuine relationships have shaped her remarkable journey through the whisky world. From helping build whisky communities and organising whisky experiences to working alongside independent bottlers, Julie shares the stories, lessons, and unforgettable moments that have defined her career. Together, we discuss why community matters, how the industry is evolving, memorable drams, and what continues to inspire her after years in whisky. If you love authentic conversations, inspiring people, and great whisky, this episode is for you. #WomenBehindWhisky #WhiskyPodcast #JulieHamilton #ScotchWhisky #IndependentBottling #WomenInWhisky #WhiskyClub #WhiskyCommunity #SingleMalt #Whisky
Jul 3

Meet Chris McDiarmid — From Wine to Whisky

Meet Chris McDiarmid — Independent Retailer Specialist for Scotland and Northern England at Berry Bros. & Rudd, one of the most respected names in fine wines and spirits, and a renowned independent bottler of whisky, rum, and cognac. In this episode of Women Behind Whisky, Chris shares her journey from the wine industry into the world of whisky, and how that transition shaped her career in one of the most competitive and relationship-driven parts of the trade. We talk about her career path, the evolving role of sales in the whisky industry, and the old and new releases coming out of Berry Bros. & Rudd — from established favourites to exciting new bottlings. Chris also shares her advice for building a successful career in the drinks business, the importance of relationships and trust, and gives us an inside look at the world of independent bottling — including the “secret” names behind some of the whiskies that enthusiasts know and love. If you’re curious about the business behind the bottle, the hidden stories of independent bottlers, and the people shaping the future of whisky — this episode is for you. #womenbehindwhisky#whiskypodcast#womeninwhisky#scotchwhisky#berrybrosandrudd#independentbottlers#whiskyindustry#whiskysales#spiritstrade#whiskybusiness#whiskytalk#singlemalt#whiskylovers#whiskycommunity#whiskystory
Jun 23

Meet Olivia Gibson — Distilling at the Edge of the Atlantic

Meet Olivia Gibson — a distiller at North Uist Distillery, the westernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Scotland, perched on the edge of the Atlantic. In this episode of Women Behind Whisky, Olivia shares her journey from the Isle of Arran into the heart of whisky production, from studying at Heriot-Watt University to gaining hands-on experience with Arran and Lagg Single Malt, and now working across the full production process at North Uist. We talk about distilling, cask filling, warehousing, sensory assessment, blending, and the fascinating balance between science and unpredictability that makes whisky so unique. Olivia also opens up about being a young woman in the whisky industry, building confidence, exceeding expectations, and finding joy in creating spirit with provenance and purpose. If you love whisky, production stories, and honest conversations from the people shaping the future of the industry — this one is for you. #womenbehindwhisky#whiskypodcast#womeninwhisky#scotchwhisky#singlemalt#distillerylife#whiskydistilling#northuistdistillery#whiskyindustry#whiskytalk#whiskymaturation#craftwhisky#whiskylovers#whiskycommunity#whiskystory
Apr 29

Meet Viktorija Macdonald — and welcome to episode three of Women Behind Whisky.

Viktorija is the co-founder of Dràm Mòr, an independent bottler known for exceptional single cask whiskies. In this conversation, we explore her journey from Lithuania into the heart of the Scottish whisky industry — and what it really takes to build a whisky brand from the ground up. Starting out working behind the bar at Òran Mòr and later in retail at The Good Spirits Co, Viktorija went on to found her own export agency, connecting Scottish distilleries with international markets. In 2019, she co-founded Dràm Mòr, now distributing whisky globally, including to Michelin-starred restaurants. We talk about entrepreneurship, the art of cask selection, and why an outsider’s perspective can be a powerful advantage in the whisky industry. If you love whisky, honest storytelling, and real conversations — this one is for you. #womenbehindwhisky #whiskypodcast #womeninwhisky #whiskyindustry #viktorijamacdonald #drammor #independentbottler #scotchwhisky #singlecask #whiskytalk
Apr 29

Meet Grace Frith — and welcome to episode two of Women Behind Whisky.

Grace is an Assistant Whiskymaker at The Lakes Distillery, where she works closely on developing and blending new spirits. In this conversation, we explore her journey into the whisky industry — from her background in flavour design to her role shaping the future of whisky today. Before stepping into whisky, Grace worked with Sensient Flavors, designing flavour systems for major food and beverage brands. That experience now plays a key role in how she approaches whisky making — combining science, creativity, and instinct. We talk about what it’s really like working behind the scenes, the art and precision of blending, and why Grace is passionate about supporting more women in the industry. If you love whisky, honest storytelling, and real conversations — this one is for you. #womenbehindwhisky #whiskypodcast #womeninwhisky #whiskyindustry #gracefrith #thelakesdistillery #whiskytalk
Mar 10

Meet Antea Allegro - and welcome to the very first episode of Women Behind Whisky.

Antea works at The GlenAllachie distillery, and in this conversation we get into what it really means to build a career in whisky as a woman today. From her first steps into the industry the reality of her daily life, Antea opens up about the challenges, the passion, and what keeps her going in a wolrd that has not always made women feel welcome. If you love whisky, honest storytelling, and real conversations - this one is for you. #womenbehindwhisky #whiskypodcast #womeninwhisky #whiskyindustry #glenallachie #anteaallegro

7 Episodes

The whisky world has always had women in it. You just haven’t been introduced yet. Each episode, we sit down with a woman who works in the whisky industry — distillers, blenders, brand founders, and more — and let her speak for herself. This is about changing the conversation, one woman at a time.

Creator

Bianka Zongorova
Years Active

2026
Episodes

7
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Bianka Zongorova
Show Website

Women Behind Whisky