Column: Whisky Isn't Just for Men

'Aren't you a man?' How often have I heard this sentence over the past (almost!) twenty years when I said: 'Pour me a glass of whisky'? As if whisky is designed only for men. Why is it considered normal when a woman drinks wine or orders a cocktail, but it sometimes raises eyebrows if it's a glass of whisky?

So let me tackle this head-on: whisky is a beverage intended for everyone of legal age, and it has absolutely nothing to do with gender. Niente, nada, zilch.

I somewhat consider the whisky world similar to the video game industry. I've been gaming since my childhood and have made my hobby my career, but before I became editor-in-chief of a major gaming and entertainment website, there was some hesitation around my hobby.

Was gaming not something for boys? Something that one outgrows? And mainly meant for ‘nerds’? When I attended a press event 20 years ago, I was often the only female and not everyone knew how to react. Luckily, I have seen that change over the past twenty years. I basically see it as my mission to make whisky as mainstream as games.

I feel like shouting from the rooftops: whisky is for everyone! If only I could sing, I'd make a song out of it. The moment you knew was coming…

Anyway, back to whisky, and in particular: women and whisky. There are all sorts of possible arguments as to why whisky is for everyone. Women might be 'better' at identifying scents and flavours, they have been involved in distilling from day one, and to this day whisky is still being made by women.

But to be honest: who cares? What does it matter what history tells us? Let’s look at the present day, the year 2024. It's about time we accept each other a bit more, judge less, and especially embrace each other's choices and interests.

Hey, I'm not the one complaining when you order a Hawaiian pizza, right? If you like it, you like it. That’s absolutely fine. Just kidding.

So just let me enjoy a glass of Caol Ila whisky from time to time without questioning why I'm not a man, why I don't have a cigar in my hand or whatever preconceived notions you might have.

One thing I’ve noticed, as I get older the less of a stir it causes. When I was in my early twenties, there was quite a bit of judgment when I drank whisky. Now people consider it quite normal. Has the times changed?

I know that more women are whisky drinkers and this number is increasing (hurray!), although I wonder how much people still raise an eyebrow to young ladies who are just starting to drink. Can anyone enlighten me on this? In any case, let's embrace them and above all treat everyone equally.

Slainte mhath!