As a pioneer in Kentucky’s bourbon industry, I celebrate Women’s History Month | Opinion

This Women’s History Month offers a time to reflect on our past. I’ve been around bourbon my entire life, but during a Kentucky distillery tour with my husband in 2017, we noticed two things were glaringly missing: the approachable nature of bourbon and the presence of black women distillers throughout history.

What started as a leisurely bourbon tour quickly turned into a brainstorming session, sparking the idea for a new business venture – one that would bring a fresh and inclusive perspective to the industry. I realized that this could be a new chapter for bourbon, written with a woman’s touch.

In 2022, my husband and I didn’t just open the doors to our distillery; we began a new chapter in Kentucky Bourbon’s rich heritage, with a woman at the forefront. It’s no secret that women have always faced more challenges in the workforce. A lesson I’ve learned is that we must stand together and empower each other, because we’re stronger together than apart.

Bottle by bottle, I’m reminded of the power I hold as a female small business co-founder. I honor the trailblazers who paved the way for women like me to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry. As I connect with other strong female voices on social media and in the community, it confirms that we’re creating a better tomorrow for the next generation.

As the co-founder of Fresh Bourbon Distilling Company, which was recognized by the Kentucky Senate as the first African Americans to make bourbon in the state of Kentucky since slavery, my husband and I understand the value of connecting with our community. To share our unique story with Lexington, we use social media tools like Facebook to share cocktail recipes and invite everyone to our bar. The power of social media to spread the story of Fresh Bourbon has been phenomenal and is a tool I encourage all businesses, small and large, to harness to connect with their local community.

At Fresh Bourbon Distillery, we embrace the strong influence of all women and hope to pave a way for other this Women’s History Month. I encourage everyone to seek out the woman-owned businesses in your town to show your support.

Tia Edwards is the co-founder of Fresh Bourbon Distillery, the first bourbon company made by African-Americans in thestate of Kentucky.