Women Owned Business Is Booming in the Liquor Industry
The liquor business has long been an old boys' club, where legacy names and corporate conglomerates hold all the keys. Women have always worked in spirits but, only recently, have we seen women owned businesses in spirits and wine. Female celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Beyonce and Eva Longoria have leveraged their fame to launch wildly successful brands like 818 Tequila, SirDavis and Casa Del Sol, but the shift doesn't stop there. Outside of the influence of venture capital and corporate advertising campaigns, independent women are calling the shots, running the stills, and building their own production lines from the ground up.
Women Owned Tequila & Mezcal
Women have historically been the primary keepers of fermentation and distillation. This is especially evident in Mexico, where it's common for women to own and operate distilleries passed down through generations. In many Oaxacan families, a natural division of labor often saw women become the lead distillers and stewards of the family's liquid heritage. Brands like Real Minero, Lágrimas de Dolores, and Mezcal Carreño are quintessential examples of this tradition.
Casa San Matias
Carmen Villarreal is a titan in the liquor industry, overseeing one of the oldest family-owned tequila houses in Mexico. Since taking the helm, she's transformed Casa San Matias into a global model for social responsibility. Under her stewardship, the brand introduced the world’s first officially recognized Extra Añejo tequila in 1993, long before the category was even formally defined.
Carmen Villarreal, photograph courtesy of The Last Drop Distillers of London.
Casa Dragones
Bertha González Nieves made history as the first woman to be certified as a Maestra Tequilera, but her legacy is defined by her role as co-founder and owner of Casa Dragones. She launched the brand with a mission to reinvent how the world experiences tequila—not as a spirit to be chased, but one to be savored. Her meticulous focus on modern Mexican craftsmanship has made Dragones a staple in the luxury market.
La Gritona Tequila
Melly Barajas is a rarity in the tequila world because she doesn’t just own the brand; she owns the distillery, Vinos y Licoreras Azteca. With a team consisting almost entirely of local women—from the jimadoras in the fields to the bottling line—La Gritona produces a Reposado that is herbaceous, crisp, and additive-free. It is tequila in its most authentic, female-led form.
TCapri Tequila
Tiffany Capri Hainesworth's TCapri is a testament to her persistence and passion for 100% Blue Weber Agave. This highland tequila is smooth, clean, and entirely additive-free, reflecting a commitment to traditional methods and independent ownership.
Tiffany Capri Hainesworth, photograph courtesy of TCapri Tequila.
Casa Del Sol
Co-founded by Eva Longoria and a powerhouse team of women with deep roots in Jalisco, including Mariana Padilla and Alejandra Pelayo, Casa Del Sol is making waves by aging their tequila in French Limousin Oak Cognac barrels. This unique process results in a luxury finish that bridges the gap between traditional Mexican spirit-making and French cellar techniques.
21 Seeds
What began in a home kitchen by Kat Hantas, Nicole Hantas-Emanuel, and Sarika Singh became a blueprint for the modern spirits startup. They founded 21 Seeds to create a high-quality tequila infused with real fruit that was approachable and easy to mix. Their rapid success and natural approach to infusions like Valencia Orange proved that women-led brands are the primary drivers of new, underserved market segments.
Doce Mezcal
Founded by entrepreneurs Gaby Arce, Gabriela Lawrence and Mia Tonelli, Doce Mezcal is the product of a deep partnership, artisanally produced in the hills of Oaxaca in collaboration with a third-generation family-owned distillery led by Matriarch and Maestra Mezcalera, Margarita Blas. Doce is crafted from 100% hand-harvested Capon Espadín agaves, which are allowed to reach full maturity to ensure maximum flavor density. Since its 2022 launch, the brand has gained significant momentum as a women- and Black-owned label, proving that heritage-driven spirits have a permanent, sophisticated place on the modern bar cart.
Doce Mezcal founders Gaby Arce, Gabriela Lawrence and Mia Tonelli (L-R), photograph courtesy of the brand.
Pantalones Tequila
Founded by Camila and Matthew McConaughey, Pantalones is the "pants-off" antidote to a spirits industry that often takes itself too seriously. Despite the irreverent marketing and "no-pants" campaigns, the brand is rooted in serious craft; it's produced at a certified organic, family-owned distillery in Amatitán, Jalisco (NOM 1614). By focusing on 100% Blue Weber agave and sustainable, additive-free production, the McConaugheys have created a portfolio that balances Hollywood-level disruption with the authentic, independent ownership that defines the modern agave movement.
818 Tequila
Owned by Kendall Jenner, 818 Tequila has utilized its massive platform to highlight female-led production teams in Jalisco. The brand emphasizes sustainability through its partnership with 1% for the Planet and its focus on traditional production methods like adobe brick ovens.
The Top Female-Led Whiskey Distilleries & Brands
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
Becky Harris is a chemical engineer who applied her technical precision to the copper still. As the owner and Chief Distiller of Virginia’s preeminent rye house, she has turned Catoctin Creek into the gold standard for organic, kosher whiskey. Their flagship Roundstone Rye is a masterclass in structure, proving that the best whiskey is often built on a foundation of scientific rigor and independent ownership.
Becky Harris, photograph courtesy of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
Forbidden Whisky
After becoming the first female Master Distiller in the history of Kentucky whiskey, Marianne Eaves struck out to build her own brand. Forbidden is the culmination of her independence. This is a boldly trespassing wheated whiskey that utilizes white corn and unconventional fermentation to create a profile that is entirely unique to Eaves’ personal vision for the category.
Happenstance Whiskey
Paige Parker founded Happenstance in Nashville to strip away the gatekeeping often found in the premium bourbon world. Her brand focuses on a high-rye, double-distilled straight bourbon that balances sophisticated honey notes with an approachable finish. The brand's designed for the enthusiast who values ownership and authenticity as much as the liquid in the glass.
Major Whiskey
Eboni Major is the force behind Major Whiskey, an independent label that leans into the bold, spicy character of high-rye mash bills. The brand prioritizes transparency and female ownership, offering a rugged, full-bodied whiskey experience that stands out in a market traditionally dominated by corporate legacy names.
SirDavis American Whisky
When Beyoncé Knowles-Carter decided to enter the whiskey space, she didn't just sign a licensing deal—she founded a brand. SirDavis is a joint venture between the icon and Moët Hennessy, named in honor of her great-grandfather, Davis Hogue, a Prohibition-era moonshiner. By leading the artistic direction and liquid profile (a unique 51% rye / 49% malted barley blend), Beyoncé has used her ownership to bridge the gap between luxury Scotch textures and American rye spice. It’s a bold move that cements her place as a power player in a category that has historically lacked both female and Black ownership at the executive level.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, photograph courtesy of SirDavis
Mad River Distillers
In the heart of Vermont, Maura Connelly co-founded Mad River Distillers to capture the rugged terroir of the Northeast. The distillery produces organic whiskies and rums using regional grains and pure mountain water. Their commitment to sustainable, fair-trade practices has made them a leader in the independent craft movement.
Silverback Distillery
Silverback Distillery is a mother-daughter-led operation that has made history as a powerhouse in the American craft spirits scene. Founded by CEO and Master Distiller Christine Riggleman alongside her daughter, Lauren Riggleman, the distillery operates production facilities in both the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the Poconos of Pennsylvania. The distillery’s portfolio is defined by precision and local sourcing, featuring the award-winning Strange Monkey Gin, the honey-infused Blackback Rye Whiskey, and a high-rye Blackback Bourbon that has earned a dedicated following for its bold, spicy profile.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Fawn Weaver didn’t just launch a brand; she built a legacy. Uncle Nearest honors Nearest Green, America's first black Master Distiller who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. The brand maintains a diverse portfolio of award-winning spirits, including the approachable 1884 Small Batch and the complex Single Barrel Premium Whiskey.
Sia Scotch
Carin Luna-Ostaseski is a disruptor in a category long defined by old-school Scottish tradition. As one of the first Hispanic women to own a Scotch brand, she launched Sia to make the category accessible and modern. It is a multi-award-winning blend that challenges the peaty, dusty stereotypes of the past.
Brenne Whisky
Founded by former professional ballerina Allison Parc, Brenne is a pioneer in the "world whisky" movement. Her vision was to create a single malt that captured the terroir of the Cognac region in France, a feat she achieved by partnering with a third-generation farm distillery. While the brand was acquired by Heaven Hill in early 2022 as part of the Samson & Surrey portfolio, Parc remains the face and driving force of the label. Her "seed-to-spirit" approach continues to prove that French craftsmanship has a permanent—and disruptive—home in the global whiskey market.
Female-Led Botanical Spirits, Global Imports, And Rum
McBride Sisters
Robin and Andréa McBride of McBride Sisters are quintessential pioneers. After building the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S., they successfully expanded their ownership into the spirits sector. By leveraging their platform to launch inclusive, high-quality offerings like their Black Girl Magic spirits and canned cocktail lines, they've redefined what a modern, multi-category beverage empire looks like.
Robin and Andréa McBride, photograph courtesy of McBride Sisters.
Freeland Spirits
Founder Jill Kuehler built this Portland-based distillery to bypass the traditional industry gatekeepers with a focus on community. The brand made its debut with its signature Freeland Spirits Gin before expanding into Bourbon and limited releases. Today, the distillery’s grain-to-glass portfolio is a masterclass in independent production. Freeland has become a benchmark for what true autonomy looks like in the Pacific Northwest craft scene.
Lyon Rum / Windon Distilling
Based in Saint Michaels, Maryland, Windon Distilling is led by Founder and CEO Jaime Windon, a tireless advocate for the American distilling industry. Since launching in 2012, Jaime has transformed Lyon Rum into a flagship for the "cane-to-glass" movement, producing 100% American rum distilled from Louisiana cane sugar and molasses in classic pot stills. Today, her portfolio ranges from the signature Lyon White and Dark rums to unique, spirit-forward liqueurs like Rock & Rum and the Sailors Reserve, proving that independent, female-led rum houses can compete with the most established categories in the world.
Jaime Windon, photograph courtesy of Lyon Rum.
Siwani Spirits
Siwani Spirits is a woman-owned brand that bridges the gap between family tradition and modern American distilling through its flagship expressions, Siwani Silva and Siwani Clü. Owner Camylle Coley uses rice as a foundational grain for these spirits, focusing on high-quality, small-batch production and global botanical profiles. Coley's hands-on approach to uncommon mash bills demonstrates that the next generation of spirits is being driven by a diverse, female-led focus.
New England Sweetwater
Alisa Lawrence and Nilaja Young are two of the owners of New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery, where they continue a family tradition of handcrafted spirits. Their small-batch approach in New Hampshire highlights local ingredients and a gritty, hands-on distilling process that defines the spirit of American craft ownership. Their diverse offerings include rums, whiskeys, and ready-to-drink cocktails.
Women-Owned Craft Cocktail Mixers & Bitters
Dappled Tonic
Based in Portland, Oregon, Faith Dionne founded Dappled Tonic with the belief that a mixer should do more than just "disappear" into a drink. As a pastry chef and distiller, Faith used her background in wild, native ingredients to launch the Pacific Northwest’s first craft tonic water. The Dappled lineup is designed to be a "triple threat"—botanical, bright, and bitter—featuring unique expressions like Floral Tonic and Aromatic Tonic. These are built to bridge the gap between a high-end gin and a standalone non-alcoholic aperitif.
Faith Dionne, photograph courtesy of Dappled Tonic.
Portland Bitters Project
Cindy Capparelli launched Portland Bitters Project in 2013, bringing her background in herbalism and botany to the forefront of the cocktail scene. Working out of a 1920s bungalow in Portland, Cindy hand-batches organic, therapeutic-grade tinctures that act as the "seasoning" for any great drink. From the deeply rich Pitch Dark Cacao to the floral Lavender and the spicy Super Spice, her bitters are highly concentrated and meticulously layered. For the whiskey lover, her Woodland Bitters—inspired by the scents of the Oregon forest—is a game-changer for a classic Old Fashioned.
Top Note Tonic
Founded by Mary Pellettieri, a veteran of the brewing industry with over 20 years of experience in quality and flavor development, Top Note Tonic has set a new standard for sparkling mixers. Mary applies "brewing logic" to her recipes, resulting in a line that is lower in sugar but exponentially higher in botanical complexity. Their Classic Tonic Water is a multi-award winner, but it’s their Ginger Beer—brewed with date sugar for a deep, earthy spice—and their Grapefruit Soda that have made them a favorite for craft cocktail enthusiasts looking to elevate a simple highball.
Main image of Jill Kuehler, photograph courtesy of Freeland Spirits.
