Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Joy Spence, master blender of J. Wray & Nephew. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
This is the sixth in our series of highlights on persons nominated for this year's Heroes' Day honours and awards.
THE POTENT potables that have won her gold medals across the globe were probably expected by Appleton Estate's master blender Joy Spence. But it's the award that she will receive on Heroes Day that has surprised her the most.
"I was speechless. I could not believe that this was happening to me. I always think that other persons will get it, not me," she laughs. A humble person, she rarely likes to be in the spotlight and readily credits the staff for their support.
Mrs. Spence will receive the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer. Before she went into the 'spirit world', she taught chemistry at Holy Childhood High School and at the University of Technology.
"At UTech I lectured in the Chemical Technology department and the main focus was the application of chemistry in manufacturing so I became very interested in the process," she said. She joined Tia Maria as chief chemist and then Wray and Nephew in 1981 in a similar post. She is still surprised that it became her life.
"I never thought that I would be involved in the whole art of blending. I pictured myself in the research lab," she jokes. She started working with the previous master blender, Owen Tulloch, and she became fascinated with the art. Tulloch realised her potential and started tutoring. Seventeen years later, Tulloch retired and, in 1997, the position was offered to Mrs. Spence.
FIRST CREATION
Her first creation was the Appleton Estate 250th anniversary blend. Others include the Extra (now called the 12-year-old) and the Reserve. Each new creation for her is like a mother with many children, they are all special. Making rum is difficult because it involves the sciences and the arts.
You have to have a good knowledge of the chemical processes and composition of the various rums. But you must have that artistic ability to know how to blend the different styles of rums together to create exceptional blends," she explained.
As the first and still only female master blender, she is known worldwide. Her fame has spread even more because she came up through the ranks: this job wasn't handed to her in nepotistic fashion.
"Many of the spirit establishments are family-owned and so the blender's position is usually passed down from father to son," she says.
BEST RUMS
When she's not making sure we have the best rums to enjoy, she does a bit of work in the garden; work she finds relaxing. As Mr. Tulloch had mentored her, she is passing on the skills to a select group to maintain the quality. But it's hard to teach something that's artistic. As she points out, there is no school for blending so students have to go the 'QBE' way: qualify by experience. She plans to go back to classroom to teach foundations in chemistry because she feels once high school students master those core principles, then CXC and GCE are easy.
As for any new creations, well, we just have to wait.
"I have a special blend that I'm working on. I can't tell you the name but it will be a blend with a difference," she assured.
