Women in Distilling Celebrates Milestone with Nearly 300 Brands on Inclusive Map

High-Proof Creative’s Initiative Shines a Spotlight on Marginalized Communities

PORTLAND, Ore. (August 23, 2024)—Women in Distilling is thrilled to announce that its map—which highlights women and other marginalized people in distilling—has reached a milestone of nearly 300 distilleries and brands. 

Women in Distilling consists of a website with a map, a blog, and an accompanying Instagram account. Created in 2020 by High-Proof Creative, a woman-owned creative agency for craft spirits, Women in Distilling highlights marginalized communities in craft spirits. To date, the map has nearly 300 women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC-affiliated distilleries. Coverage of folks in distilling by Clare Goggin Sivits — a staff writer — has progressed since 2020 covering more than 153 people in the industry.

Karen Locke, founder of Women in Distilling, was a full-time senior content strategist and freelance writer prior to starting High-Proof Creative. During this time, she had trouble finding diverse sources for her articles, particularly women and people of color in the spirits industry. According to Locke, “Anecdotally, I heard people in the industry say there weren’t many women in distilling, but in a decade writing about craft spirits, I knew it was more likely these people weren’t getting the exposure and recognition they deserved.” 

Entries to the map are self-elected, and distilleries can choose to showcase their companies in many categories, including women-owned, women on executive teams, women distillers, employing 50 percent or more women, BIPOC, Non-Binary, LGBTQIA+, and more. 

Coverage at Women in Distilling consists of features that highlight business owners and other folks in the industry and regional guides of where to find women+ affiliated businesses. Women in Distilling was awarded Double Platinum in 2023 from ASCOT Awards for Best Instagram.  

About High-Proof Creative

High-Proof Creative is a woman-owned & award-winning digital marketing & branding agency passionate about craft beverage. High-Proof Creative provides services for companies nationwide in various areas including branding & packaging, website development, design, marketing strategy, social media, content, SEO, and more. Before starting High-Proof Creative, founder Karen Locke, wrote “High-Proof PDX: A Spirited Guide to Portland's Craft Distilling” and wrote about food and drink for publications such as Bon Appétit, GQ, Thrillist, Sip magazine, Chilled, and more.