Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Tilton.
Maria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My husband and I are co-owners of a local craft distillery here in town which specializes in making grain-to-glass whiskey in house. So whiskey of all types has always been very special to me, and it is a spirit that I am very familiar with. I began to realize that I enjoy sharing our whiskey with friends just as much as I enjoy drinking it myself. And I also realized that sometimes women can be made to feel less educated than men when it comes to whiskey, and especially when drinking it “neat” (with no water, mixer or ice). This is what led me down the path of wanting to start a local chapter of Women Who Whiskey in San Diego.
I was familiar with the organization because our distillery did an event with the Los Angeles chapter, and I was surprised to hear that San Diego did not yet have a chapter. It was the president of the L.A. chapter who put me in touch with the national president to start up in San Diego.
I paired with my friend Sarah, who I knew from whiskey events, and she became Vice President of the chapter. And the rest, as they say, is history! We began recruiting members and organizing events. Our events consist of anything from whiskey tastings, casual happy hour meet-ups, and we even did a chocolate and whiskey pairing for Valentine’s Day. It has been almost a year since we formally started the chapter, and we already have over 100 members! It has been a great ride so far.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest challenge we faced was the time it took to find the right team of leaders to launch the chapter. We knew we needed team members with great organizational and communication skills. We did not want to go fully live and start the chapter until all of the key players were in place. But once we found that perfect fit, everything else seemed to fall into place naturally.
Please tell us about Women Who Whiskey San Diego.
We are the San Diego chapter of Women Who Whiskey, a national organization and experimental whiskey club originally founded in New York City that focuses on giving its members the opportunity to learn about varieties of whiskeys and cocktail culture, and also to join a network of like-minded women. Currently, there are over 30 different chapters in both the United States and abroad.
As President of the San Diego chapter, I am very proud to be a part of this organization which focuses on educating and empowering women in a field that is traditionally male-dominated. As we continue to grow, I am looking forward to cultivating the relationships we have already formed with our members, industry representatives, and local proprietors, as they have all been tremendously supportive in our endeavor. And of course, I am looking forward to meeting new and inspiring people as we travel along on this journey!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My Vice President, Sarah Nguyen, and her husband Nick have both been tremendously supportive in starting the chapter and helping to organize events. Also, Julia Ritz Toffoli, who is the President of the entire Women Who Whiskey organization, has been exceptionally helpful in helping us launch the San Diego chapter. And finally, Kim O’Hanneson, the President of the Los Angeles chapter, was the one who inspired and encouraged me to take on this endeavor in the first place!
Pricing:
- It is free to sign up for our mailing list through our website to get information on upcoming events.
- Each specific tasting/event has its own pricing, ranging anywhere from $5 for an informal get-together at a member’s home to $75 for a multi-course whiskey pairing dinner in a private room at a local restaurant. It just all depends!
- We may also be doing a barrel pick and selling bottles to the chapter, ranging anywhere from $45 to $65 in price. Details to come on that!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.womenwhowhiskey.club/sandiego
- Phone: 858-431-6245
- Email: sandiego@womenwhowhiskey.club
- Instagram: @womenwhowhiskeysandiego
- Facebook: Women Who Whiskey San Diego (Private Group)
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