Women are making their presence felt among those who sell, distribute and appreciate whisky.

Bar owners and spirit suppliers here say they have noticed a growing number of women whisky drinkers over the last few years.

Ms Joyce Ng, co-owner of whisky watering hole Quaich Bar in Waterfront Plaza reckons the number of whisky-drinking women over the last few years is up by some 30 per cent.

And it is usually women in their mid- to late 20s and older, who have come to appreciate the spirit.

In fact, whisky creator and global ambassador for the Scotch label Glenmorangie, Ms Annabel Meikle, says the trend here is mirrored in other parts of the world.

The 40-year-old was in town last week to host a whisky-pairing dinner at The Tower Club.

She says she has noticed that Asian women in places such as Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam appreciate the differences between single-malts and blends.

Single malts are made from one type of malt, usually barley, and are distilled in one distillery. Blends are combinations of one or more single malt whiskies.

Whisky is the distillate of a malt, usually barley, that is aged in oak casks for several years. The length of time varies among distilleries.

While Scotland is well known for being the motherland of whisky, other countries that produce the spirit include Canada, Japan, Ireland, India and the United States.

Well-known single malt brands include Macallan, Laphroaig, Glenmorangie and Glenlivet while popular brands of blends include Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal.

Bar and club operators say women customers know what whisky they want and are well-versed in the taste characteristics of each brand.

Mr Andrew Ing, 42, chief operating officer of St James Holdings, says it is common these days to see a woman sipping whisky, neat, with a dash water or on the rocks. Indeed, he has noticed more women whisky drinkers in the last year.

'Seeing a woman drinking whisky with a little water does not surprise me as much anymore,' he says. 'It probably has a lot to do with their palates - as they get older, their palates become more sophisticated and that is why they find it more appealing.'

Good whiskies are complex in flavour, with a long finish. Taste characteristics can include hints of citrus, wood, honey, peat, pine, smoke, brine and caramel.

Owner of Scotch whisky bar Malt Vault in Ann Siang Hill, Mr Mike Soldner, 32, says most of the women he has served are partial to whisky with smokey flavours.

Many women drinkers, industry folk say, are also opting for single malt whiskies over blended ones.

Mr Marcus Lew, 36, general sales manager of spirits distributor Maxxium, which has single-malt whisky labels such as Macallan, Laphroaig and Highland Park under its portfolio, says single malts probably appeal to women because they are smoother, more refined and can be more delicate and subtle on the palate.

At Whisky Live last month, an event which showcased over 100 whisky varieties, organiser Emmanuel Dron, 37, general manager of specialist whisky store La Maison du Whisky, says about one quarter of those who turned out were women. Some came in groups and went around tasting the various whiskies on offer.

One self-confessed whisky nut is general practitioner Chong Seik Ein, 29, who had a whisky-tasting hen's night at Malt Vault before getting married last weekend.

She says: 'I started out liking more sherried whiskies when I was younger, but in my late 20s, I have started to appreciate more peated ones such as Laphroaig and Caol Ila.'

For Ms Vashty Soegomo-McNee, 27, financial controller of a freight forwarding company, her love affair with whisky began when she was a university student in London and travelled to the Scottish Highlands.

'I love the smooth and natural characteristics that a great whisky can have - the notes of honey and the sometimes buttery aftertaste it leaves on the palate,' she says.

And for most of these female whisky lovers, the notion of whisky as an old man's drink is archaic. They say the drink should have no gender bias.

Ms Soegomo-McNee says: 'I am sure that for a lot of men, there is nothing sexier than seeing a well-dressed woman with a glass of whisky sitting at a bar.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.