I read an article on Facebook today on the 8 reasons to date a whiskey drinking woman. These types of articles always make me smile, at first, because I’m a woman that drinks whiskey and all of these descriptions seem complimentary. (Reasons to date girls that drink whiskey) Then they make me wonder…why are these stereotypes around? Who are these mysterious whiskey-drinking women that our society has conjured up?
Whiskey has a reputation in America as a bad boy or bad girl drink. When it’s not seen as the drink of choice served to cowboys and criminals, it’s seen as the neat rocks glass drink served to wealthy men in dark smoky rooms filled with leather chairs and antiques. Now, it’s sultry women with secrets that don’t like commitment in their love lives. Whiskey has a long history in this country, and it’s been used by advertising firms, politicians, and writers to conjure specific images and emotions. Let’s be real here, we all know the appeal and we all know the reality, so why do these stereotypes still exist? Well, because we like them.
I’ve had many conversations with women that say, “Oh, I could never drink whiskey!” Usually, their reaction to whiskey isn’t based on any bad experience they’d had or not liking whiskey after trying it. It’s usually more to do with not wanting to do something that they felt was out of character for themselves. Drinking whiskey would make them too tough or too masculine, and that was unappealing. It had very little to do with the drink itself. This notion that women should try flavored whiskey or should try it in a cocktail is not anti-feminist, though many lady whiskey drinkers react as if it were, at first. It is a “safe” and socially acceptable alternative to what most whiskey enthusiasts would consider “real” whiskey. Many “real” whiskey drinkers make up rules like “You should only drink good whiskey neat” or “You should never add water to good whiskey” or “Men drink whiskey and women drink cocktails.” I can promise you that the people manufacturing whiskey and the folks that are proud of their family’s tradition of crafting spirits would never tell you how to drink what they’ve worked so hard to create. Opinions on what’s right and wrong about drinking whiskey are created by the advertisers, political motivators, and opinion writers of the whiskey world.
Our society has been taught since before Prohibition that whiskey is bad and those people that drink it are rebels and anti-establishment. Women are certainly sensible enough to know what they like, but our culture does not condone women drinking “rebellious drinks.” Our culture likes women drinking wine, and it is finally coming around to women drinking beer. It used to be sexy and willful for women to smoke cigarettes thanks to those silver-screen films portraying femme fatales puffing away. Just try to remember…it’s all one big ad campaign. People like to think they have their own unique way of thinking, but we can’t help but be influenced by marketing and societal norms.
Drink whiskey. Don’t drink whiskey. It’s up to you, ladies. I love whiskey, and I’m sure that has something to do with whiskey having “an edge” to it. I’m not immune to the advertising! In all honesty though, whiskey is a beautifully complex beverage with deep roots in our culture. It’s made from an ancient interaction of art and science (two of my favorite subjects), an alchemy which modern distillers are always attempting to recreate or improve upon. It’s a miracle to me that no two are alike! It’s the magic that goes into making whiskey that keeps me coming back for more. Whiskey is a drink for the people…and what we, as a people, should enjoy together! Cheers!