The proverbial glass ceiling? Really, still?! - She said...

SHE SAID:  Ok, I’m going to rant, but just this once I promise.  As a result of yet another local liquor store employee acting like a kumquat, the purpose of this particular blog is to inform some (not all, just SOME!) of the males in the whisky world:  You should not assume all women know little to nothing about whisky!  

I am positive the majority of men out there who either work in the field or love whisky as their hobby have never been talked down to, dismissed or ignored like some women are.  

There is nothing more insulting to me then listening to an employee of the local liquor store commission, a bartender or a product representative (YES a rep!) mispronounce the names of the bottles they are trying to impress me with (my favourite to this day:  Ocean-tock-uns).  I am often cut off while I’m speaking, dismissed completely or I simply listen patiently as they override my suggestions and recommend bottles they think I would surely enjoy, instead of the ones I enquired about??  Unfortunately, I am no stranger to these types of behaviors.  It’s like trying to speak to a used car salesman: “Well looky here sweetie, it’s got a nice makeup mirror and plenty of space to put all your shopping bags darlin’!”  Sweetie?  Make up? Darlin’?  Seriously!?  My reply:  “Ok, my little kumquat, why don’t you tell me when was the last time it had a 30 point inspection?  How are the axles, boots and U joints on this thing?”  That usually leaves them a bit red faced and staring at me blankly.  

Word of advice:  If you are at a whisky event and a gorgeous woman starts talking to you, take a moment and gage how much she knows before you go into “bravado and peacock mode”.  Why not grant her a bit of respect and realize that just because she has boobs, high heels and a lovely dress on that she is NOT at this event for you to hit on her?

Does every man do this? No thank goodness!  However knowing full well the whisky world is still very much an old boys club in some circles, it still remains a complete mystery to me and a point of contention at times that women are so easily dismissed because of our gender!  


If you see me politely smiling back at a man speaking to my boobs during one of these functions, know that I am fantasizing about a different place to put that nosing glass he is holding, but then again that would be wasting a perfectly good whisky, wouldn't it!

Gentlemen, keep this in mind if ever you get to meet me.  I am an equal, I love whisky and I would ask for the same respect you warrant when you walk into a room.  I am not a kumquat and neither are the majority of women who imbibe the lovely liquid we are all passionate about!

On the whisky trail, somewhere with boobs, in my high heels and pretty dress…

Johanne