My name is Heather Wibbels, aka the Cocktail Contessa, and I’m a whiskey enthusiast (Executive Bourbon Steward, no less) with a passion for cocktails. I love researching cocktails, making cocktails and drinking cocktails. Mostly whiskey cocktails, given my Kentucky location. For more information about my favorite whiskey group, head over to Bourbon Women and join the women’s whiskey revolution! My biggest passion is teaching others to create their own cocktails and play with flavors and aromas to create their perfect cocktail.
More about me: Although I don’t work behind a bar in my day job, I love the creativity and balance involved in creating top-notch cocktails at home or when you entertain.
I want making cocktails to be approachable, creative and fun. I’ve won a few amateur cocktail competitions (Bourbon Women’s Not Your Pink Drink Amateur Contest in 2015, 2016, and 2017) and the Kentucky Distiller Association Mint Julep contest in 2019, and make cocktails for friends and family. In fact, it was Peggy Noe Stevens of the Bourbon Women who jokingly called me the Cocktail Contessa and the name stuck!
But in the end, I want to bring the bar home to you, and show you how to make drinks that look great, taste fantastic, but are easy to put together. And maybe throw in a little flair to impress your friends and family.
I keep myself busy with the Bourbon Women, who put together creative and educational bourbon and whiskey-centric events, and I’m a member of their National Board.
Living in Kentucky, I get to take part in a good number of whiskey- and bourbon-related events, including visiting distilleries, and I love to learn more about whiskies. At last count, I’ve done upwards of 60 distillery tours and presentations, and that doesn’t include various whiskey events and bourbon festivals around town.
I’m always keen to create new cocktails and collaborate with new spirits and products, so use the contact form to ping me if you’d like to collaborate or want a custom cocktail designed for your special occasion.