Marlene Holmes, Master Distiller Of Milam & Greene, Makes Whiskey History

Just ahead of the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Marlene Holmes received some big news. The master distiller of Texas-based Milam & Greene Whiskey became the latest inductee into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame, one of the first American women and the only female distiller in the U.S. to receive this honor.

This award – one of the highest honors in the spirits business – recognizes her exceptional contributions to the whiskey industry.

Holmes joins an elite group of less than 100 trailblazers and icons responsible for creating the modern whiskey world, including Buffalo Trace’s Elmer T. Lee, Wild Turkey’s Jimmy Russell, and Heaven Hill’s Parker Beam, among others. The award recognizes her legacy as one of the most respected distillers in the world.

The Kentucky native started her career in whiskey in 1990 with Jim Beam in Kentucky working under the legendary distiller Booker Noe who helped start the modern bourbon boom and created the small batch category. During this time, Holmes mastered the skill of whiskey-making while producing more than 1,400 barrels a day.

After nearly three decades, she decided to pack up her life to start a new chapter by bringing her expertise to Milam & Greene in Blanco, Texas. Holmes immediately became the most experienced whiskey maker in Texas, leading the brand to national recognition and critical acclaim.

In 2020, Milam & Greene’s Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks won Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2024, she was named Master Distiller of the Year at the Women of Whiskey Awards for her groundbreaking work and dedication to the craft.

“To be recognized alongside global leaders in whiskey-making is truly an honor beyond words. My first thought after winning was that I didn’t deserve it. Then I thought, well, I don’t deserve grey hair either. Now I’m told I’ve earned them both,” says Holmes.

Milam & Greene is named after the partnership between Texas entrepreneur Marsha Milam and CEO and master blender Heather Greene, the first woman to serve on Scotland’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society tasting panel. This woman run and led distillery produces award-winning, critically acclaimed craft bourbon and rye in various expressions, available in 19 states

“Marlene’s win isn’t just for Milam & Greene Whiskey — it’s for a new generation of Bourbon fans seeking a whiskey that shatters expectations of who can make it and where it comes from,” says Greene. “The honor confirms Marlene’s formidable skills and also validates Texas Hill Country as a leading spot for whiskey innovation in America. Marlene does it all with such humor and grace, too.”

“Marlene’s induction into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards is a win for not only Marlene but for Milam & Greene Distillery and the Texas whiskey industry,” said Marsha Milam, founder of Milam & Greene Whiskey. “Her influence reaches far beyond distilling. She’s inspiring the next generation of whiskey makers while drawing in new consumers with her fearless spirit, ensuring that her legacy will endure for years to come.”