Meet Master Rum Blender Joy Spence of Appleton Estate - AFAR

"This historic Jamaican rum distillery, the island’s oldest, is celebrated for full-bodied rums shaped by Jamaica’s tropical climate and limestone-filtered water. Its longtime master blender, a Jamaican-born chemist who rose from research roles to become the world’s first female master rum blender, helped define a craft of combining different rum styles into distinctive blends and recently marked 40 years with the brand. A highlight release is the 15-year-old Black River Cask, a tribute to the Black River source that contributes to its flavor, and the final-prototype sampling of that expression was memorable to its creator. The house’s range lends itself to elevated drinking and food pairings—recommendations include the Estate Signature Blend with ceviche, the 8-Year-Old Reserve with jerk chicken, and the 12-Year-Old Rare Casks with deconstructed oxtail—and signature cocktails include an 8-Year-Old Reserve Daiquiri made with brown sugar syrup and “The Joy” (reserve blend with ginger ale, muddled orange, and five drops of Angostura bitters). The distillery emphasizes Jamaican heritage in its bottles and its master blender encourages aspiring women in the industry to focus on craft, learn from failure, and pursue innovation." - Kristin Braswell