SPIRITED WOMEN
Makers, Shakers, and Trailblazers in the World of Cocktails
A toast to the trailblazing women who are shaking up the industry
Alcohol and spirits have long been thought of as a male-dominated field, but the truth is that women have been serving it up for centuries. (Literally—the first distilling technology isbelieved to have been invented by a woman in 100 CE!) Today, there are so many amazing women all over the world stirring up the biz, and it’s time we raise a glass. In this fun, feminist, vibrantly illustrated book, bar professional Sammi Katz and artist Olivia McGiff celebrate 55 of these groundbreaking women, telling their stories through profiles and original cocktail recipes, all inspired by their spirits—in every sense of the word.
The women you’ll meet and their contributions to the industry are vast and varied, such as Lesley Gracie, master distiller at Hendricks Gin; Lynnette Marrero, cofounder of Speed Rack, an all-female bartending competition; and Eileen Wayner, Lola Thomas, and Alex Smith, the leadership team of Tales of the Cocktail, the country’s leading cocktail conference. And you’ll enjoy cocktail recipes for Title IX (a favorite at Portland’s female-owned sports bar the Sports Bra), Soul of San Miguel (a take on a white Negroni, inspired by a master tequila distiller in Mexico), and Le Donne (featuring an amaro revived from near extinction by a family of Italian women). Whether you’re here for the stories or the drinks (or both!), this colorful book of unsung heroines will have you raising a glass to the dame and the dram.
On Sale March 4, 2025 — Pre-Order Now!
Advance Praise for Spirited Women
“Did you know that the first bars were invented by women to serve gin to women in England in the 1700s? Or that roughly 60% of bartenders in the US today are women? Spirited Women is a fun and informative anecdotal look at the surprising and sometime hard-fought influence of diverse women on every aspect of the liquor industry. It is replete with cutting edge, delectable cocktail recipes which I for one, as an enthusiastic bourbon drinker, plan to serve at my next party.”
— Cynthia Nixon, actor, activist, and theater director
"This fun and feisty showcase of brilliant women in the spirits industry will leave you buzzing with inspiration (and buzzed on delicious cocktail recipes)."
— Jennifer Croll, author of Free The Tipple
"Sammi and Olivia are sublime storytellers . . . The illustrations and clever recipes are as vibrant as the lives of the accomplished women they celebrate. Spirited Women is an artistic triumph, and I’ll drink to that!"
— Abi Balingit, James Beard Award-winning author of Mayumu
(c) Sammi Katz & Olivia McGiff, All Rights Reserved
"Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff do a smashing job celebrating a wide swath of spirits and cocktail industry makers and shakers from all over the world . . . Plus, how can we discuss spirited women without toasting to their achievements with a proper cocktail? Each entry gets its own drink. It’s a brilliant format."
— Amanda Schuster, author
of Signature Cocktails
“Spirited Women is a beautifully illustrated showcase for the inventive, uproarious, daring, and determined women shaking up the cocktail world."
— Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist