Page 42 - Beverage MasterOct Nov 2020

Craft Distillery
products, we were the first to produce Baijiu, a
rice vodka, a rice whiskey, and flavored Baijiu in
America.
2. The top lesson we’ve learned is that introducing
something different, like Baijiu, to the market,
is extremely difficult. Every sale requires an
explanation of what the product is and how to
consume it.
3. My advice would be to have a target audience
in mind, find a niche and dominate it.
Julie Shore and Arla
Johnson—Co-Founders
and Head Distiller—
Halifax Distilling
Company
Business and life part-
ners Shore, a former
dental hygienist, and
Johnson, a counselor,
previously owned and
operated Prince Edward
Distillery, home of
Canada’s first potato
vodka, before launching Halifax Distilling Company
in Nova Scotia in 2016. Shore, a fourth-generation
distiller, now focuses on a Maritimes favorite, rum.
Signature Spirits: J.D. Shore Rum Cream, Black
Rum, Gold Rum
1. I love creating and visiting other distilleries to
taste their creations. It’s so exciting! This indus- limited-time releases that we have introduced,
try has grown so much since we first distilled in
2008. It has brought such awareness to the pub-
lic and gained much support! This is no small
feat when the big conglomerates dominate the
industry—to be able to carve out a piece from
them is a very proud feeling!
2. As a businesswoman, I’m still learning. Seems
we learn everything the hard way! I think the
top lesson that I’ve stumbled across is I try to
be a real part of my community—and not just
for the social media posts either. We want to
help out when we can. If someone asks us for
something, we really want to be there for them. 3. My advice to any woman entering the industry
Johnson adds: “’No’ does not mean no—you
have to push back.”
3. Follow your dream, and don’t take anyone’s
shit! Seriously, there are folks who will get in
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your way—don’t waste time with them. Figure
out how to get it done without them. If—and
this will happen, too—you have to work with
them, swallow hard and compliment the hell
out of them. These folks trying their best to pre-
vent you from succeeding typically have huge
egos, and complimenting them really works.
Just try not to sound sarcastic. Johnson adds:
“You have to have passion and tenacity. You
have to push through the challenges.”
Joy Spence—Master
Blender—Appleton
Estate Jamaica Rum
The grand dame of
master blending, chem-
ist Spence has spent
nearly 40 years craft-
ing Appleton Estate’s
centuries’ old tradition
for the modern age—
first working with the
master blender, then
assuming that role in
1997. Along with creating special blends for presi-
dents and princes, she mentors Nassau Valley high
school students in chemistry.
Signature Spirits: Appleton Estate Signature
Jamaica Rum, 12-Year-Old Rare Casks Jamaica Rum,
8-Year-Old Reserve Jamaica Rum
1. As a master blender responsible for the lega-
cy of our rum, I’m most proud of the several
such as the Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old, the
Appleton Estate 30-Year-Old and the Appleton
Estate Joy Anniversary 25-Year-Old. These offer-
ings have created greater focus on the premi-
um quality of the Appleton Estate range while
showcasing the depth of very old rums in our
inventory.
2. During my career, the top lesson I have learned
as a master blender is that every failure leads to
an improvement, and being pragmatic is a key
success factor.
is to focus on your craft and not your gender.
Become an expert in your field and pass on your
knowledge. It’s your passion, skill and creativity
that will make you successful.
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