| TODAY’S TASTEMAKERS |
Photo courtesy of Woodford Reserve
Elizabeth McCall MASTER DISTILLER, WOODFORD RESERVE
Also a Kentucky native, Elizabeth McCall believes that bourbon has always been deeply ingrained in her life. “It’s so great to be able to help influence this historic industry,” she remarks. “Every day I’m proud to share [Woodford Reserve] with consumers all over the country and the world!” McCall took a less conventional path into the industry. While finishing her master’s in counselling psychology, she was presented with an opportunity to join Brown-Forman as a technician in their Sensory Department. As a technician, her original role with Brown-Forman was to wash dishes and set up tasting panels. However, during an internal spirit training course, her aptitude was recognized by Master Distiller Chris Morris, who mentored McCall from 2015 onward. First taking the role of Assistant Master Distiller, for Woodford Reserve, McCall was recently promoted in February 2023 to Master Distiller. “Her inquisitive nature bodes well for those who have come to expect innovative flavour concepts from our Master’s Collection and Distillery Series offerings. The future couldn’t be more promising for Woodford Reserve,” notes Morris.
It’s so great to be able to help influence this historic industry.
With differing paths to success, Walker, Macleod, Wilson and McCall can all agree that having women involved in the whisky industry is beneficial to success in the long-term, with McCall emphasizing that, “we can get to the point in the whisky business where women are not the exception, but the norm.” Having women represented in the industry will also foster more product diversity, creativity and innovation. New perspectives will create new products that will appeal to new groups of consumers and this will ultimately drive industry longevity.
WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLER’S SELECT KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY USA $51.99 480624 This rich, complex bourbon is essential for your home bar. Notes of butterscotch, clove, cherries and black pepper intermingle with roasted pecans and dark roast coffee. Exceptional for citrus-based cocktails.
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