The Bourbon Women Association is gearing up for a significant celebration as the organization reaches its 15th year of operation. Founded in 2011, the group holds the distinction of being the first national consumer organization in the spirits industry specifically focused on women. The anniversary plans include an ambitious lineup of events and programs spanning 16 branch locations nationwide.
Peggy Noe Stevens, who established the organization, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone. "We are thrilled to celebrate fifteen years of Bourbon Women, and celebrate we will," Stevens said in a news release. "In everything we do, we seek to inspire, educate, and empower our members. Thanks to the support of our distillery partners and dedicated board members who lead the organization, we are taking it to a new level. We sought to build a community of spirited women one sip at a time. That mission still rings true today, 15 years later. Our members have built every inch of the organization; it's truly been an amazing journey."
The organization's board has developed a comprehensive schedule of activities designed to appeal to both newcomers to the spirits world and seasoned enthusiasts. Each program has been evaluated with an emphasis on creating an enjoyable experience for participants.
One of the centerpiece offerings for the anniversary year will be a specially created whiskey blend. The collaboration brings together expertise from multiple sources within the organization and the broader industry. Bourbon Women experts will work alongside professional distillers, master tasters, and master blenders to create a unique product commemorating the 15-year anniversary.
Education represents a core component of the organization's mission, and the anniversary year will see the introduction of a new credentialing program. This educational initiative will provide members with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of American whiskey through structured learning. The program aims to establish participants as authoritative voices on the subject, with special pricing and access benefits for Bourbon Women members.
The annual SIPosium conference scheduled for August 13-16, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky, will serve as the year's signature gathering. The event brings together members for a multi-day experience featuring educational sessions, networking opportunities, and celebratory activities. Attendees can expect exclusive tastings, behind-the-scenes distillery tours with VIP access, carefully planned food and whiskey pairings, and workshops conducted by prominent figures in the spirits industry. The organization has promised additional surprises as part of the programming. Tickets for the conference will become available for purchase during the spring months.
A new offering called Trippettes will provide members with luxury weekend retreat experiences. The concept draws inspiration from traditional sleepover camps but tailored for adults seeking relaxation and connection. These getaways are designed to refresh participants while strengthening the bonds of community that characterize membership in the organization.
Perhaps the most significant announcement involves the organization's plans for international growth. Bourbon Women intends to reveal details of its first expansion beyond United States borders sometime in 2026. Specific information about this development will be shared at a future date, though the organization describes it as a landmark move.
To ensure accessibility for members regardless of location, virtual programming will continue throughout the anniversary year. These online events will serve multiple purposes: reflecting on the organization's history over the past decade and a half, celebrating the current community, and looking ahead to future growth opportunities as the group expands its reach internationally.
The Bourbon Women Association has grown substantially since Stevens launched it more than a decade ago. What began as a novel concept—a consumer organization centered on women's interest in spirits—has evolved into an established presence within the industry. The organization now counts thousands of members across the country, spread among 16 different branch locations.
The group's stated mission focuses on empowerment through a combination of knowledge acquisition, community building, fellowship, and entertainment. This approach blends serious education about spirits with social connection and enjoyment of the lifestyle associated with whiskey appreciation.
The spirits industry has seen considerable changes since 2011, including growing diversity in both consumers and professionals. The establishment of an organization specifically welcoming women into a traditionally male-dominated space represented a pioneering move at the time. Over 15 years, the organization has worked to create space for women interested in bourbon and other whiskeys to learn, share experiences, and develop expertise.
Stevens, who founded the organization, has established herself as an industry pioneer. Her vision of building a community "one sip at a time" has resulted in an organization that balances educational rigor with social enjoyment. The acknowledgment of distillery partners and board members in the anniversary announcement reflects the collaborative nature of the organization's growth.
The upcoming anniversary celebrations represent both a look backward at accomplishments and a forward-looking perspective on continued expansion. The combination of a commemorative whiskey blend, enhanced educational programming, signature events, luxury retreats, and international expansion demonstrates an organization confident in its foundation and ambitious about its future.
For those interested in American whiskey, the organization provides resources ranging from beginner-friendly introductions to advanced study for those seeking deeper expertise. The new credentialing program launching this year suggests a commitment to establishing recognized standards for whiskey knowledge among members.
The SIPosium conference exemplifies the organization's approach to combining education with celebration. By bringing members together in Louisville—the heart of bourbon country—for an extended multi-day experience, the event creates opportunities for both learning and relationship building that virtual or shorter programs cannot replicate.
The planned Trippettes weekend getaways add another dimension to membership benefits. These retreats recognize that community building extends beyond formal educational settings. By creating dedicated time and space for members to connect in relaxed, luxurious environments, the organization reinforces the fellowship component of its mission.
As Bourbon Women prepares to announce its first international location, the organization moves into a new phase of development. The global expansion represents recognition that interest in American whiskey extends far beyond United States borders. Virtual programming throughout the year will help bridge geographical distances and prepare the organization's community for this international chapter.
The 15-year milestone offers an opportunity to assess how far the organization has come from its founding. What started as a single person's vision has grown into a multi-state organization with thousands of members, industry partnerships, and now plans for global reach. The anniversary year's programming reflects both celebration of this growth and commitment to the fundamental mission that launched the organization: creating community, sharing knowledge, and enjoying the world of spirits together.
