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International News
Who Is Joy Spence?
The First Woman Master Blender?
Appleton Estates is the oldest sugar estate and
one of Jamaica’s six thriving rum distilleries. It is
where Joy Spence, their Chief Chemist since 1981
and the first woman Master Blender, has been
rum is not your new multivitamin replacement!
This rich thick sweet syrup comes to life when sug-
arcane juice is boiled until it is crystallized and then making her incomparable mark in the global rum
fermented. In the case of gold-hued rums, the color market. She has a Masters’ degree in Analytical
begins to take hold by using oaken casks to age the Chemistry from Loughborough University. Spence
clear liquid which turns color due to the tannins was under the helm of the previous Appleton
from the oak. On average Jamaican rums age close Estates Master Blender, Owen Tulloch for over 16
to seven years. A process that differs when making years who mentored her. During this time, she was
another popular spirit, white rum. able to use her passion for chemistry to become a
world-renowned blender.
Deeper-toned rums are made from the dunder
or skimmings from vats used to boil the sugar and In 1997 Spence, unbeknownst to her at the time,
molasses. What makes each rum unique are the became the first woman master blender. At this
expertly blended elements that will determine the time, there were no other women designated with
flavor profile and aromas. For example, the addi- this accolade. This show-stopping rum that Spence
tion of caramel when aging commences creates a has been creating for over 35 years draws its sweet
silkier and darker liquor. It’s these little nuances soft taste from the limestone-filtered spring water
that create a vast difference between one rum it uses from the Black River, the longest river in
to another although they may appear similar in Jamaica. This distillery is located in a favorable area
appearance. with limestone hills and an ecological system that
works perfectly to nurture the abundance of green-
A full-bodied rum is aged in casks that have great ery. Due to this natural irrigation sugarcane is easy
depth and are large in size. These casks, “pun- to grow.
cheons”, can hold approximately 111.6 gallons. The
difference between light and full-bodied rums is Joy Spence is credited for masterfully blending
fermentation. In the case of full-bodied rum, slow two rums that made Appleton famous. The 8-Year-
fermentation is required, and this is referred to as Old Reserve and “50-Year-Old which is according
wild fermentation. Light-bodied rum mostly pro- to Appleton Estates “the world’s oldest barrel-aged
duced in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico under- rum that has been bottled and sold. “The Appleton
goes a process called cultured fermentation where Estate 8-Year-Old Reserve, a full-bodied rum is
yeast is derived from raw material. The aging peri- probably one of the most recognized rum brands
od for these lighter-colored and dry rums is under at your local liquor store. You have most like expe-
four years. In some cases, light-bodied rums are rienced its robust aroma and flavorful smooth
aged for only one year. notes. Sold at a price point that will make your
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