Join the Celebration: Spirited Women Book Launch Party at Doña

Gin Guild members are invited to a special evening at Doña, London, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 6:30 PM, to celebrate the launch of “Spirited Women”—a groundbreaking book honouring female pioneers in the spirits industry.

This book, written by Sammi Katz and Olivia Williams, highlights 55 extraordinary women who have made a lasting impact in distillation, cocktail culture, and spirits innovation. Among them are three trailblazers in gin:

• Dr Anne Brock, Master Distiller at Bombay Sapphire, a chemist-turned-distiller who has led the brand’s innovation since 2017. She is also a former Grand Rectifier of The Gin Guild, championing education and excellence in gin-making.
   
• Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller at Hendrick’s Gin, the creative mind behind the rose and cucumber-infused gin that revolutionised contemporary gin styles. Her work has shaped one of the most iconic and recognisable gin brands in the world.
   
• Stephanie Jordan, a spirits expert and co-founder of Avallen Calvados, known for her deep passion for sustainability. She has played a key role in promoting environmentally responsible spirits, championing eco-conscious distilling practices and sustainable business models.

This exclusive event is a unique opportunity to celebrate their achievements and those of many other women featured in “Spirited Women”. Whether you are a distiller, bar professional, or gin enthusiast, this gathering is the perfect chance to connect with industry leaders and like-minded individuals.

Guests will enjoy an evening of inspiring discussions, book signings, and networking in the stylish and intimate setting of Doña, a female-led bar dedicated to showcasing diverse voices in the drinks industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of “Spirited Women”, meet some of the remarkable figures featured in the book, and raise a glass to the women shaping the future of spirits.

This event is not just a book launch—it’s a celebration of women who have transformed the world of gin and spirits, making the industry more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable for future generations.

Spaces are free, but limited, so be sure to secure yours by registering on their Eventbrite page.

About the book

Alcohol and spirits have long been thought of as a male-dominated field, but the truth is that women have been serving it up for centuries. (Literally—the first distilling technology is believed to have been invented by a woman in 100 CE.)

Today, many women are shaking up the industry, from distillers and blenders to bar owners and spirits educators. In this fun, feminist, vividly illustrated book, bar professional Sammi Katz and illustrator Olivia McGiff celebrate the spirit and spirits of 55 of these groundbreaking women with profiles and recipes, in three areas of the industry:

Makers – women who are directly involved in the development and production of spirits

Shakers – mixologists and bar owners

Trailblazers – women who have influenced the spirits world in other ways, such as historians, authors, and entrepreneurs).

Each profile is paired with a cocktail recipe that highlights each woman’s story, including the Title IX (a favourite at Portland’s female-owned sports bar The Sports Bra); Casual Brilliance (a take on a Sazerac, inspired by a whisky distiller in Australia); and Le Donne (which features an amaro revived from near extinction by a family of Italian women).

This colourful book of unsung heroines joyfully raises a glass to the dame and the dram!