Bourbon Ladies, Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation Honor Beloved
Trade Writer & Champion
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Award-winning writer and Bourbon columnist Susan Reigler obtained the ninth annual “Lois Mateus Networking Award” Friday evening honoring her distinguished contributions to the legacy of Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and spirits business.
A former restaurant critic and beverage columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, Reigler is Bourbon columnist for Meals & Eating and Covey Rise magazines and likewise writes for Bourbon+, LEO Weekly, and American Whiskey Journal.
Reigler accepted the award not too long ago on the Bourbon Ladies SIPosium Welcome Dinner on the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Bourbon Ladies Founder Peggy Noe Stevens and KDA Director of Trade Accountability and Sustainability Sara Barnes introduced Reigler with crystal decanter to commemorate her notable work preserving and elevating the legacy of Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage.
“Susan Reigler is a real Bourbon authority,” Stevens mentioned. “Not solely has she authored numerous books and is a well-respected whiskey author, however she is graciously beneficiant along with her time and expertise. She has volunteered and networked with folks all throughout the nation to assist construct our Bourbon Ladies message.
“She is a real image of our mission within the business, and we’re elated that she has obtained this prestigious award from the KDA.”
Reigler has authored or co-authored six books together with Kentucky Bourbon Nation: The Important Journey Information, The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Guide, The Bourbon Tasting Pocket book, and The American Whiskey Tasting Pocket book, and Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon? – Setting the Desk for Tastings, Meals Pairings, Dinner, and Cocktail Events.
A graduate of Indiana and Oxford Universities, Reigler has served as president of each the Bourbon Ladies Affiliation and the Kentucky chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier Worldwide, a corporation of ladies culinary professionals.
In 2019, she was acknowledged by business leaders with an induction into the distinguished Order of the Writ, a fraternal and charitable group that embraces the spirit of Kentucky Bourbon training, accountability, environmental stewardship, historical past, scholarship and an unwavering dedication to the furtherance of America’s spirit.
KDA President Eric Gregory mentioned Reigler’s beneficiant information, wit and dry humor make her a favourite educator and marketing consultant amongst Bourbon followers and Bourbon makers alike.
“Susan has spent her decades-long profession elevating the integrity of Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage via scholarship and literary enterprise.” Gregory mentioned. “It’s our distinct honor to current her with this 12 months’s Lois Mateus award.”
The award is called for Lois Mateus, retired Senior Vice President of Brown-Forman, Inc., and the primary lady ever to serve on the KDA Board. Her two-year time period in 1992 paved the best way for different ladies in high-ranking roles all through Kentucky’s signature Bourbon business.
“To be given this award, named in honor of one of many true pioneers and mentors of ladies within the Bourbon business, is actually an honor,” Reigler mentioned. “It’s additionally a reminder of the accountability these of us ready to take action must proceed nurturing gifted ladies who can contribute a lot to Kentucky’s and America’s native spirit.”
The award is given yearly by Bourbon Ladies together with the KDA primarily based on the next standards for a lady who has:
· Excelled in her occupation by repeatedly constructing key relationships to contribute to the expansion in her respective business
· Damaged via limitations to develop her profession
· Contributed to the group via service and philanthropy
· Elevated publicity for different ladies to develop their networking and profession alternatives
· Developed artistic partnerships and strategic alliances to additional the expansion of her respective business
· Develop into a task mannequin for feminine professionalism
Bourbon Ladies is the premier group for ladies who’re captivated with exploring Bourbon and the tradition that surrounds it.
Designed completely for instructional, networking and charitable functions, Bourbon Ladies’s fast-growing membership is made up of ladies from over 39 states and continues to develop past their 16 branches throughout the nation.
Since its inception, the Bourbon Ladies Affiliation has impressed books on ladies within the business, nurtures partnerships with key business associations, created the one women-focused Bourbon convention – now in its eighth 12 months – and continues to boost cash for philanthropies via their curated, distinctive, high-quality occasions.
Bourbon Ladies from across the nation come collectively annually for his or her annual Bourbon Ladies SIPosium. This 12 months’s occasion was held in Louisville and featured 13 distillery excursions, 17 seminars by business leaders within the Bourbon business, keynotes, and networking receptions that includes Kentucky Bourbon, hand-crafted cocktails and scrumptious native fare.
Study extra at www.bourbonwomen.org.
Based in 1880, the KDA represents 80 members, together with 50 distilling firms working 73 areas in 40 counties throughout the Commonwealth – essentially the most for the reason that repeal of Prohibition. Kentucky distillers produce 95 p.c of the worldwide provide of Bourbon.
Bourbon is certainly one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion financial and tourism engine sustaining greater than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion annually, over $285 million in native and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.
A key export, the enduring business is presently in the midst of a $5.2 billion constructing increase, from modern new tourism experiences to expanded manufacturing services, bottling facilities and growing older warehouses, all to satisfy the rising international thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.
Bourbon manufacturing has skyrocketed greater than 435% for the reason that flip of the century.
Kentucky now boasts greater than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon growing older in warehouses throughout the Bluegrass, essentially the most in its revered distilling historical past. Distillers crammed greater than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third 12 months in a row that manufacturing topped the 2 million mark.
Go to www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to be taught extra.
Gregory mentioned Reigler’s dedication to bringing Kentucky Bourbon tradition to the world via her endeavors is the true spirit of the business. “The spectacular breadth of Susan’s work is important to selling and defending Kentucky’s rightful place because the one, true, genuine dwelling for Bourbon.”
“On behalf of KDA and our 80 members, we congratulate Susan and thank her for her management, help and important contributions to Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits business”
For extra data, contact Heather Wibbels with Bourbon Ladies at (615) 294-6672; Peggy Noe Stevens at (502) 338-6564; or Eric Gregory with Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation at (502) 875-9351.
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