Join us as we welcome the first and only Female Master Blender for rums, Joy Spence, of Appleton Estate Rum for a lovely educational tasting. We’ll pour their Signature, Reserve, Rare Blend 12 year and the 21 year.MENUJamaican Jerk Chicken Sliders with Grilled Pineapple, Coleslaw, Havarti Cheese, and Sweet Spicy BBQ Sauce Crab & Calamari Fritters with Lemon Herb Curry TartarRum Tropical Fruit Salad Tropical Fruits marinated in Appleton Rum, with fresh Mint & BasilMini Jamaican Meat Patty Ground beef cooked in island seasoning and spices, wrapped in pastry dough and baked to perfectionPineapple Rum Bread Pudding with Coconut White Chocolate Sauce More about Joy: Appleton Estate’s Master Blender, Joy Spence, has the honour of being the first woman to hold the position of Master Blender in the spirits industry. Joy fell in love with chemistry at the age of 13 and always dreamed of becoming a scientist. After graduating from the University of Loughborough with a master’s degree in analytical chemistry, she joined Appleton Estate in 1981 as Chief Chemist where her passion for the art of creating rum-blends was inspired by her predecessor, Owen Tulloch, who was her mentor at the company. Over the next 16 years, Joy extended her knowledge of the science of the rum-making process to include the artistic side as well. She honed her sensory skills, developing an unrivalled mastery of taste and smell and in 1997 she made history when she was appointed the world’s first female Master Blender. Over the last 20 years she has created some of the finest rums the world has ever seen including Appleton Estate Reserve Blend and Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old, Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum and most recently Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend. Creating rum provides Joy with the perfect balance of art and science. She says that in rum-making, they are so intricately intertwined that it is difficult to pinpoint where the science stops and the art begins. Joy has received many honours and awards including a National Honour from the Government of Jamaica for her contribution to industry and honorary doctorate degrees from both the University of the West Indies and Loughborough University.