Crafted In The Heart Of Jamaica: Appleton® Estate Celebrates World's First Female Master Blender Joy Spence With Limited Release Of Rare 25-Year-Old Rum

Two decades ago, Spence shattered the spirits industry's glass ceiling when she was appointed the world's first female Master Blender – a title that few women share twenty years later. To commemorate Joy's anniversary and pay homage to her years at Appleton Estate, the distillery is releasing "JOY," its first 25-Year-Old Rum – a fitting tribute to the visionary who has spent much of her career perfecting it.

"For my anniversary blend, I simply set out to create the rum that I'd like to sip while watching the colors of my garden change in the warm glow of the Jamaican sunset," said Master Blender Joy Spence. "It includes two rum marques, which are of particular sentimental significance to me: The first of these marques was laid down to age in 1981 - the year I joined the Appleton Estate team, and the second is my favorite marque of pot still rum. The final blend is a wonderful rum that I hope Appleton Estate fans will enjoy."

These two distinct rums are the heart of the JOY Anniversary release, and are combined with other hand-selected marques of rum that perfectly complement the complex flavors of the aged liquid to create a blend that is impeccably balanced with subtle mellow oak notes. On the palate, JOY opens with Appleton Estate's trademark delicate orange peel, leading into a delicious mix of ginger, spice, warm vanilla, butterscotch, and coffee, with lingering layers of almond and toasted oak. With an exceptionally smooth finish of brown sugar, the new release is sure to please all those that have the privilege of sipping it.

A CATEGORY POISED TO BECOME THE NEXT BIG THING
As the ultra-premium rum category experiences respectable growth at approximately 10 percent (Nielsen Data – 12/31.16), the Jamaican Rum segment has a unique opportunity to define and shape the category at large as it becomes a more compelling proposition with bartenders and consumers interested in aged spirits. In 2016, Appleton Estate – with Joy Spence at the helm – saw a surge in 9L case volume with 15 percent growth across its portfolio. With a range of expressions for different palates and price points, such as cocktail-centric spirits like Appleton Estate Reserve Blend and Appleton Estate Signature Blend to sipping rums, such as the Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old and Appleton Estate 21 Year Old, these rums are part of the legacy of the Jamaican people. As Ms. Spence celebrates this milestone in her career, the "JOY" release is another example of the brand expanding its offerings to keep the rum category fresh and engaging.

A RUM VISIONARY AHEAD OF HER TIME
As a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry, Joy is nothing short of a pioneer. At a very young age, Joy fell in love with the field of Chemistry and dreamed of working in a field where she could bring that passion to life. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and with a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry – a rarity for a Jamaican woman at that time - she joined Appleton Estate in 1981 as Chief Chemist, and quickly became enthralled with the process of blending rum. 

Over the next 16 years, under the expert guidance of then Master Blender, Owen Tulloch, Joy honed her sensory skills, developing an unrivalled palate and excellent sense of smell, until she herself was named Master Blender in 1997. Throughout her tenure, Joy has been decorated with a myriad of awards, starting with honorary doctorate degrees from both alma maters, and culminating with a national award from the Jamaican government for her contribution to the rum industry.  Both an artist and a scientist, Joy has spent the last twenty years creating some of the finest rums the world has ever tasted, and the "JOY" Anniversary Blend may be her greatest triumph yet. 

In her 36 years with the distillery, Spence has spearheaded the brand's legacy of quality, care and dedication. She is an industry pioneer with unparalleled skills at creating premium blended rums, which is in every bottle produced. This latest and exclusive honorary release is a reflection of a remarkably resilient and passionate woman who embodies grace, devotion, intelligence, perseverance, and, above all else, joy. Born in Jamaica, Joy enjoys cooking and gardening and is even renowned within her native country for creating her own face cream - yet another example of her skill blending the finest ingredients.

Appleton® Estate's "Joy" Anniversary Blend is bottled at 90 proof (45% alc./vol.) and retails for an MSRP of $250.

TASTING NOTES:

Blend: A select blend of aged rums each matured a minimum of 25 years, including rum aged up to 35 years.

Appearance: Beautiful coppery gold color with shimmering highlights.

Bouquet: Opening with Appleton Estate's trademark delicate orange peel as a top note and intertwined with ginger and spice, this special blend finishes with warm vanilla, butterscotch, coffee and lingering layers of almond and toasted oak.

Finish: Exceptionally smooth with an elegant finish of brown sugar.

About Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum:
Nestled in the heart of Jamaica in the beautiful, lush Nassau Valley in the island's famed Cockpit Country lies the Appleton Estate.  For over 265 years, the people at the Appleton Estate have crafted authentic, premium rums using time honored traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.  From cane to cup, our critically acclaimed rums are created by the environment, ingredients, and practices that are unique to our estate.  Our unique terroir, with its ideal climate, fertile soil and topography, the natural spring that supplies our water for fermentation, through to distillation, ageing and blending all combine to produce rums that are delicious and alive, vivid and deep with complex flavors and aromas. 

Appleton Estate's core range offers three premium rums:  Appleton Estate Signature Blend, Appleton Estate Reserve Blend and Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old.  In addition, Appleton Estate also has two ultra-premium rums:  Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Jamaica Rum and Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum which is a limited edition 50 year old minimum age rum. 

Appleton Estate has a deep and serious respect for the land and has undertaken several environmentally friendly initiatives, both at the Appleton Estate and at our headquarters in Kingston to ensure that our operations are green.

Twitter: @AppletonRumUSA
Instagram: AppletonEstateUSA
Facebook: AppletonEstate

About Campari America
Campari America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM).  At the heart of Campari America are two legends in the American spirits industry.  The first, Skyy Spirits, was founded in San Francisco back in 1992 by the entrepreneur who invented iconic SKYY Vodka.  The second is the world-famous Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they have been making the world's finest whiskies since the 1800's.  Both companies were purchased by Davide Campari-Milano and together they form Campari America, which has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers.  Campari America manages Gruppo Campari's portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Aperol®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell's Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Forty Creek® Canadian Whisky, BULLDOG® Gin, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón® Tequila, Appleton® Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew® Rum, Coruba® Rum, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Cynar®, Averna®, Braulio®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. 

Campari America is headquartered in San Francisco, California.  More information on the company can be found at www.campariamerica.com, www.facebook.com/campariamerica, Twitter: @CampariAmerica and www.camparigroup.com.  Please enjoy Campari America brands responsibly and in moderation.

SOURCE Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum