Award-Winning Hackstons Celebrates International Women’s Day with a Curated Collection Honouring Female Pioneers in Wine and Whisky

Award-winning Hackstons is marking International Women’s Day with a curated collection of exceptional bottles that honour the women shaping the world of fine wine and whisky.

Renowned for transforming premium drinks retail and tangible asset ownership, Hackstons continues to champion excellence, craftsmanship, and leadership across the industry. 

This International Women’s Day on Sunday March 8, the Knightsbridge flagship turns the spotlight toward five remarkable female winemakers and master blenders whose expertise, innovation, and dedication define some of the world’s most revered bottles.

Hackstons’ latest curation celebrates both heritage and progress, showcasing wines and whiskies crafted by women at the very pinnacle of their fields. 

Each bottle has been carefully selected not only for its exceptional quality and collectability, but for the story of talent, determination, and artistry behind it.

From England’s most decorated sparkling winemaker to the first woman to ever hold the title of Maître de Caves at Krug, the collection spans iconic Champagne houses, historic Scotch distilleries, and one of Australia’s most celebrated wineries.

The result? A a line-up that reflects the global influence and growing leadership of women across the drinks industry.

At the heart of the selection is the 2017 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs (£42.40), crafted under the guidance of Cherie Spriggs, who has led winemaking at Nyetimber since 2007. 

Produced using estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and made in the traditional method, the wine displays a pale gold hue with a fine mousse, layered with lemon curd, greengage, clotted cream and flinty minerality, finishing long and complex with a touch of salinity. Spriggs made history as the first non-Champagne winemaker to win Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge, later securing the title for a second time.

Joining the line-up is Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Edition (£240), overseen by Julie Cavil, who in 2020 became the first woman at Krug to hold the title of Maître de Caves. Delicate yet intense, the Champagne reveals white fruits and citrus with characteristic lemony freshness, white flowers and violet, finishing with subtle eucalyptus and menthol nuances. 

From the Scottish Highlands, Royal Brackla 21 Year Old (£225) showcases the work of Stephanie Macleod, who in 2019 became the first woman to win the International Whisky Competition’s Master Blender of the Year award, an accolade she went on to win five more consecutive times. Finished in Oloroso, Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, this refined single malt offers syrupy toffee, summer berries warmed by cinnamon and muscovado sugar, embodying both richness and elegance.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label (£225), crafted under the direction of Dr Emma Walker, reflects a new chapter for the iconic Scotch house. Leading a team of 12 expert whisky makers, Walker hand-selects rare casks from across Scotland, including stocks from ghost distilleries, to create a layered blend of hazelnut, citrus, vanilla and honey that unfolds into a long, smoky finish maintaining the brand’s renowned character while heralding an innovative era.

Completing the collection is the 2019 Penfolds Grange (£499), shaped in part by senior winemaker Stephanie Dutton, whose career at Penfolds has spanned continents since joining in 20wine07. Deep, rich Shiraz fruit meets mineral nuance, fine tannins and balancing acidity, delivering a wine of intensity and precision. 

This International Women’s Day curation reflects the same philosophy that earned Hackstons its industry acclaim of uncompromising quality, expert guidance, and an experience that goes far beyond the bottle.

Hackstons founder Alphie Valentine told That's Food and Drink: “Our International Women’s Day selection celebrates the extraordinary women redefining the world of fine wine and whisky. Each bottle tells a story of expertise, resilience and innovation and we’re proud to showcase their achievements at our Knightsbridge flagship.”

The Newcomer of the Year award was presented at a gala ceremony on 3 February 2026 at The Dorchester, attended by leading figures from across the drinks, luxury, and retail industries.

For more information about Hackstons, its Knightsbridge flagship store, or to explore the International Women’s Day selection, visit www.hackstons.com.

Founded in 2021, Hackstons is redefining the luxury tangible goods market through curated collections of rare whiskies, fine wines, and exclusive spirits. 

With a pioneering focus on cask whisky ownership, Hackstons enables clients to explore premium drinks as both an exceptional experience and a long-term asset. Its end-to-end services span acquisition, storage, bottling, and resale.

In August 2024, Hackstons opened its flagship retail experience in Knightsbridge, London, delivering expert guidance, private tastings, and tailored service. In 2026, Hackstons was crowned Newcomer of the Year at the Drinks Retailing Awards marking a major milestone in its rapid ascent and setting a new benchmark for luxury drinks retail.

Hackstons Unveils Unique Autumn Season of World-Class Whisky & Wine Tastings

Hackstons Knightsbridge, the luxury whisky and fine wine specialist, has unveiled its most ambitious Autumn programme yet.

Today they unveil a season of curated tastings and immersive cultural experiences designed to position the flagship store as one of London’s most exclusive destinations this autumn.

Timed to coincide with the capital’s peak cultural season from Frieze London and the autumn art fairs to London Fashion Week Hackstons has created an inviting atmosphere as the autumn days grow colder.

Since opening a little over a year ago, Hackstons has become a gathering place for collectors, connoisseurs, and tastemakers. 

Now, with a calendar of events that merges rarity, artistry, and indulgence, the Knightsbridge landmark cements itself firmly within London’s luxury landscape.

The programme unfolds as a series of high-concept experiences. Guests are invited to step behind the curtain of one of Japan’s most iconic blends with a deconstruction of Hibiki; to challenge tradition in a bold Grand Cru, Drive Thru’ that pairs Bordeaux first growths and legendary vintages with fast food indulgence; and to savour liquid history through Diageo’s fabled Prima & Ultima collection - a portfolio valued at over £15,000, offered in an intimate pour seldom experienced beyond the walls of collectors’ cellars.

As the season deepens, the narrative shifts into fireside comfort with explorations of sherry and port that trace centuries of Iberian winemaking heritage.

Johnnie Walker Blue is reimagined through rare ghost distillery expressions - long closed but brought back to life in exquisite blends rarely poured outside the inner circle of whisky collectors.

And in one of the most innovative events of the calendar, Fettercairn stages a multi-sensory journey where guests are blindfolded, immersed in curated soundscapes, and even invited to paint their own tasting notes in watercolour, before leaving with a personalised collectible as a lasting memento.

Completing the season is Liquid Masterpieces, a concept that fuses the visual and the gustatory, pairing extraordinary drinks with inspiration from the world’s most celebrated artists, inviting guests to sip, savour, and see flavour as art.

Extending beyond the store itself, Hackstons has partnered with The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for an exclusive corkage collaboration. From 22 September to 14 November, guests may bring their Hackstons purchases into one of Knightsbridge’s most acclaimed Japanese dining destinations, enjoying their bottles in a setting as refined as the spirits themselves.

Hackstons Knightsbridge was always designed to be more than a store, it’s a destination,” said Alphie Valentine, Co-Founder and Director told That's Food and Drink.

“This autumn’s programme shows the breadth of what Hackstons stands for, from pouring rare whiskies valued at £15,000 to pairing Grand Cru with fries, we’re challenging expectations while staying true to our mission of making fine and rare spirits accessible, exciting, and memorable. To turn one and already be recognised as one of the UK’s most promising newcomers proves that Hackstons is creating something truly special.”

Hackstons’ autumn events are fully ticketed, with prices beginning at £75. Attendance is limited to preserve exclusivity and intimacy. For the full programme or to secure a place, visit hackstons.com/events.