Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/701904
4 / the tasting panel / july 2016 We work in an industry where glass is meant to contain, which makes the meta- phor of the glass ceiling, or the invisible barrier said to be holding women back, all the more per- tinent. And I've heard it time and time again: The wine and spirits industry is dominated by men. While I don't disagree with this statement—men have historically been the backbone of our sector—the tides are certainly shifting, and no matter where you look, women have a hand in everything, from the produc- tion to the marketing to the serving of our favorite beverages. Reading through our magazine and seeing plenty of ladies filling up our pages proves this point, not to mention our own offices: Our Publisher and Editorial Director just happens to be a woman, along with almost three quarters of our staff. Not only are women entering careers in our industry in staggering numbers, they are thriving and creating opportunities for others, systems of support and men- torship programs—even all-female bartending com- petitions like SpeedRack (See page 30 for a Q&A with co-founder Lynette Marrero) do more to bring women together than anything this industry's seen before. We wanted to get in on the girl-power action, so throughout the summer and into the fall, The Tasting Panel has the pleasure of hosting Women in Whiskey events, geared specifically to female bartenders and somms who have an affinity for the spirit. (See page 75 for a recap of our very first event in this series.) These serve as an advanced education for the female attendees, as well as to help destroy the stereotype that women don't drink whiskey. I can tell you from personal experience that our gender enjoys a glass of whiskey with the best of them. No, I don't have a crystal ball to tell you what the future of our industry looks like for women, but if I were to guess based on the current trends, women will be breaking plenty of glass ceilings, and one day, I may no longer have to ask a female interviewee what it's like to work in a male-dominated industry. I'll raise a glass to that! —Emily Coleman Managing Editor The Glass Ceiling A LETTER FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR The Tasting Panel's Managing Editor Emily Coleman at Claudine Artisan Kitchen & Bakeshop in Encino, CA. PHOTO: JESSE HOM-DAWSON