The whisky industry in the US is a legend of its own. It has towering figures in history that revolutionized the making of whiskey right from the first major general's deep interest in the spirit to the Prohibition era that stripped the spirit bare. While the world has turned upside down post Prohibition era, the history lingers on. Casked across the country are stories and legacies that reveal themselves one sip at a time.

Distilleries, Blenders, Bars and Pubs, Managers, Promotors, Reviewers, Awards, Competitions, Tastings, and Festivals have all played an important role in sustaining and propagating the Whiskey Culture by bringing American Whiskey to the world and the world to America. Distillery owners, Blenders, Bartenders, and Enthusiasts, in big and small ways, go on to make trends, communities, and cultures around their love for whiskey.

In 2021, there are many more icons who continue to relay the baton and further the legacy of Whiskey in the United States of America. Here is a look at five such icons:

Becky Harris

Image Source: American Whisky Convention Website

Elected president of the board of directors for the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) in May 2020, Becky Harris is the chief distiller at Catoctin Creek Distillery. Harris co-founded Catoctin Creek Distillery with her husband Scott Harris in 2009 to create the finest Virginia Rye Whisky from grain to glass. Living in what is believed to be the birthplace of Virginia whiskey, Harris was often tempted to open an independent distillery.

With a nod to her roots and George Washington’s legacy, the town of Purcellville became home to Harris’ experiments with locally sourced Rye to make some great whiskey celebrated all over America. The New York Times, Washington Post, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, and Whisky Advocate are some of the many, many institutions that applaud Harris’ work. Food and Wine named this Master Distiller in their “6 Women in Whiskey to Watch”.

Victoria Eady Butler

Image Source: Food & Wine, Uncle Nearest Page

Victoria Eady Butler is the first known Black female Master Blender in the American spirits industry. Her life’s work has revolved around the legacy of her great-great-grandfather Nathan “Nearest” Green who trained Jack Daniel in the craft of whiskey distilling. Green was enslaved until 1865 but played a huge role in the Tennessee Whiskey business. Victoria Eady Butler soon joined Fawn Weaver in creating the signature 1884 batch of Uncle Nearest Whiskey. She retired from a 31-year career with the Department of Justice to join the blending team with no prior experience.

But what she created was liquid gold and went on to win many awards for Uncle Nearest and the title of Master Blender for herself. Uncle Nearest is the only distillery owned and run by a Black female, and the only whiskey that honors a Black man on the bottle. Victoria Eady Butler is blending a revolution, also while presiding over the Nearest Green Foundation that assists his descendants with all their educational needs.

Jared Himstedt

Image Source: Drink Me Mag Website

The head distiller and distillery manager at the award-winning Balcones began his journey from a humble home brewing kit he was gifted at his wedding. It was this gift that introduced him to his gift. He took great interest in the gift and joined communities that appreciated home-brewed beers in his area. A decade later, he joined Balcones.

He is the creative force, product developer, and head blender at the distillery, overseeing everything from label design to barrel selection since 2008. He loves his single malt whisky and is currently experimenting with Rye, Barley, and Peated Malt to create newer experiences at Balcones. His recent successes include a win at the Icons of Whiskey America award. 

Mark Gillespie (Whiskycast): 

Image Source: Indiana Media School Alumni Page

Mark Gillespie is a podcaster, journalist, photographer, and executive producer at WhiskyCast. Born in 2005, WhiskyCast is referred to as the NPR of Whiskey. It features "cask-strength conversations'' on Whiskies around the world. The podcast features people, stories, histories, and of course whiskies that are taking the whisky industry by storm around the world. Gillespie is also a U.S. Contributing Editor for Whisky Magazine.

His training in broadcast journalism meets his love for whiskey and opens up avenues where the industry looks forward to his recommendations and research week after week. The podcast averages more than 100,000 listens every month. Gillespie has also been appointed as a judge for the annual World Whiskies Awards as well as the Icons of Whisky awards. WhiskyCast was awarded the 2020 Spirited Award for "Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series" as part of the 2020 Tales of the Cocktail conference.

Peggy Noe Stevens

Image Source: Peggy’s Website

Peggy Noe Stevens is the world’s first female Master Bourbon Taster. Stevens worked with the Brown-Forman Corporation for 17 years before branching out to create Peggy Noe Stevens and Associates 13 years ago. At Brown-Forman, Stevens learned the ropes of the trade and conducted Bourbon tastings around the world. She is the founder of the Bourbon Women's Association and the co-founder of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Stevens is also an author of "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?" which shares insights into how to throw an epic derby. In her illustrious career, Stevens has worked with iconic brands like Jack Daniels, Woodford Reserve, Southern Comfort, Beam, and Sonoma-Cutrer wines. Peggy Noe Stevens has been inducted into the 2020 Whisky Magazine's Hall of Fame as well as the 2019 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.

Article Written by: Prithvi Nagpal – Editor & Sommelier, Beverage Trade Network.