{{Short description|Jamaican master blender}}{{Infobox person | name = Joy Spence | birth_date = 1951 | citizenship = Jamaica | occupation = Master blender | employer = Appleton Estate | known_for = 1st female master blender in the spirits industry | awards = Commander of the Order of Distinction (2017) }}
'''Joy Spence''' (born 1951) is a Jamaican chemist and master blender at Appleton Estate. She was the first female master blender in the spirits industry.{{r|meara|nelson}}
== Early life and education ==
Spence was born in Manchester, Jamaica{{r|payne}} in 1951 and was raised in Kingston{{r|meara}} by her adoptive parents.{{r|flair}} Her passion for chemistry began at age 13. Spence attended the University of the West Indies, graduating with First Class Honors in 1972. She then became a teacher and performed lectures on chemistry.<ref name="WIRSPA-2021">{{Cite AV media|title=Icon Series - Joy Spence of J. Wray & Nephew Ltd|people=Joy Spence|date=2020-10-25|type=YouTube video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GWBp1ITRwQ|work=YouTube|publisher=WIRSPA}}</ref> She earned her master's degree in analytical chemistry at Loughborough University in England.{{r|meara}}
== Career ==
Spence started as a research and development chemist at Tia Maria, but stated that she quickly grew bored with just the single product they produced.<ref name="Harpers-2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/2191-The|title=Interview: Joy Spence, Master blender, J Wray and Nephew Ltd, Jamaica|publisher=Harpers|date=28 June 2005|access-date=2009-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002105025/http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/2191-The|archive-date=2011-10-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="WIRSPA-2021"/> She then decided to apply to the company next door, J. Wray & Nephew Ltd.<ref name="Harpers-2011"/><ref name="WIRSPA-2021"/> In 1981, the rum distillery Appleton Estate, which was owned by J. Wray & Nephew Ltd., hired Spence as its chief chemist.{{r|meara}}
At Appleton, Spence worked with Owen Tulloch, the master blender at the time, who recognized Spence's ability to identify and differentiate between smells, describing it as an "organoleptic talent".{{r|vora}} After working with Tulloch for 17 years, Spence was promoted to master blender in 1997 on Tulloch's retirement.<ref name="WIRSPA-2021"/> Her first creation as the master blender was a special rum to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Appleton Estate, which received high praise in the industry.{{r|meara}} Spence has created special rum blends for select customers, such as Ronald Reagan, Prince William, and Prince Harry.{{r|flair}} At Appleton Estate, Spence serves as a brand ambassador, travelling about 40% of the time,{{r|vora}} and is also the general manager for technical and quality service.{{r|nelson}}.
In 1988 and 2008, Spence was a member of the Jamaican Rum Standards committee.<ref name="WIRSPA-2021"/> Spence was instrumental in achieving geographical indication for Jamaican rum, which was awarded in 2016.{{r|meara}}{{r|dodd}} She was the chairwoman of the GI project, and several aspects of the Jamaican Rum Standards were incorporated into the Jamaican Rum GI, as well as into the CARICOM Rum Standards.<ref name="WIRSPA-2021"/>
== Distinctions ==
=== Awards ===
* 2017: Commander (CD) of the Order of Distinction<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-10 |title=NHA Awardee- Joy Spence |url=https://jis.gov.jm/radio_programs/nha-awardee-joy-spence/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=JIS Jamaica Information Service |language=en-US}}</ref> - Officer (OD) in 2005{{r|meara}} * 2017: Grand Dame Award by Tales of the Cocktail{{r|meara}} * 2018: The Prime Minister's Medal for Science and Technology (now known as the National Medal for Science and Technology){{r|natmedal}} * 2022: Musgrave Gold Medal<ref>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Kediesha |date=November 24, 2022 |title=10 get Musgrave Medals |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/10-get-musgrave-medals/ |access-date=November 24, 2022 |website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref> * 2022: Lifetime Achievement Award by The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.{{r|discus}} *'2026: ''Forbes'' 50 Over 50 Global list<ref>{{cite web | website=Jamaica Observer | date=January 25, 2026 | title=Joy Spence makes Forbes' 50 Over 50 Global list | url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/01/25/joy-spence-makes-forbes-50-50-global-list/ | access-date=January 25, 2026}}</ref>
=== Appleton Estate ===
Tours of the Appleton Estate distillery are named The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience.{{r|dodd}} In 2017, Appleton Estate released the Joy Anniversary Blend of rum to commemorate her 20 years as their master blender.{{r|distiller}}{{r|meara}} Her 40th year at Appleton Estate was marked by the release of the Ruby Anniversary Edition in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=Appleton Estate Launches Ruby Anniversary Edition |url=https://sflcn.com/appleton-estate-launches-ruby-anniversary-edition/ |access-date=2022-01-13 |website=South Florida Caribbean News}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Spence is married and has two children.{{r|fitz}}
== References == <references> <ref name=discus>{{cite web | title=Master blender Jamaican Joy Spence receives DISCUS Lifetime Achievement Award | website=Jamaica Gleaner | date=June 9, 2022 | url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20220609/master-blender-jamaican-joy-spence-receives-discus-lifetime-achievement-award | access-date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> <ref name=distiller>{{cite web | title=The Winners of The First Annual Distiller Awards | website=Distiller - The Liquor Expert | date=2017-12-19 | url=https://distiller.com/articles/distiller-awards-2017 | access-date=2021-12-25}}</ref> <ref name="dodd">{{cite web | last=Dodd | first=Claire | title=Meet the woman changing the face of Jamaican rum | website=The Independent | date=July 24, 2018 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/joy-spence-appleton-estate-rum-experience-jamaica-nassau-valley-a8453291.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220617/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/joy-spence-appleton-estate-rum-experience-jamaica-nassau-valley-a8453291.html |archive-date=2022-06-17 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref> <ref name=fitz>{{cite news | newspaper=Chicago Tribune | last=Fitzgerald | first=Jacqueline | date=November 24, 2004 | page=8-2 | title=Distilling the essence of a spirited chemist | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91084755/joy-spence-tribune/}}</ref> <ref name="flair">{{cite magazine| title=Pioneer: Joy Spence, a legend in the spirits industry | magazine= Flair Magazine | url=https://www.flairja.com/joy-spence-a-legend-in-the-spirits-industry/ | access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref> <ref name=meara>{{cite book | last=Meara | first=Mallory | title=Girly drinks: a world history of women and alcohol | publisher=Hanover Square Press | publication-place=Toronto, Ontario, Canada | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-335-28240-8 | oclc=1273729039 | pages=297-298; 307-309; 314-317}}</ref> <ref name=natmedal>{{cite web | title=Nominations open for 2022 National Medal for Science and Technology | website=Jamaica Observer | date=July 13, 2022 | url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/nominations-open-for-2022-national-medal-for-science-and-technology/ | access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref> <ref name=nelson>{{cite news | newspaper=Daily News (New York, New York) | last=Nelson-Hughes | first=Karen | title=Ms. Master Blender | date=November 10, 2002 | page=277 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91085025/joy-spence-daily-news/}}</ref> <ref name=payne>{{cite news | newspaper=Edmonton Journal | last=Payne | first=Steve | date=April 25, 2001 | page=44 | title=She nosed her way up the ranks | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91084860/joy-spence-edmonton/}}</ref> <ref name="vora">{{cite web | last=Vora | first=Shivani | title=Meet the rum industry's first female Master Blender | website=Fortune | date=October 24, 2015 | url=https://fortune.com/2015/10/24/female-master-blender/ | access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref> </references>
== External links == * [https://www.essence.com/news/first-female-master-blender-joy-spence/ The First Female Master Blender Is A Black Woman], October 2023 article in ''Essence'' * [https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2022/05/the-big-interview-joy-spence-appleton-estate/ The big interview: Joy Spence, Appleton Estate], ''The Spirits Business'', 2022
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Joy}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Jamaican women chemists Category:Whisky blenders Category:Alumni of Loughborough University Category:University of the West Indies alumni