ON Wednesday, July 23, heads of industry and State, including Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, came together to mark a moment few companies in the world can claim: the 200th anniversary of J Wray & Nephew (JWN) Limited, Jamaica’s oldest registered business.

Leading the reflection on the company’s remarkable journey was Joy Spence, the world’s first female master blender, whose own story is inseparable from the transformation of the island’s iconic rum brands.

Spence spoke of the revolutionary innovations of the company, her overall struggles to ascending to the top and the importance of continuing the journey which began two centuries ago as a tavern in downtown Kingston.

“As we celebrate 200 years today, we are not just looking back at where we’ve been, we’re preparing for the next chapter of our story,” said Spence, as she led guests down memory lane from the formation of Jamaica’s first registered company to the globally respected institution it is today.

“The foundation laid by our founder, strengthened by generations of dedicated craftspeople, and enhanced by modern technology, positions us to continue leading the rum industry for the next 200 years.”

Spence joined JWN in 1981, transitioning from a role as a research chemist at Tia Maria to the newly created position of chief chemist at J Wray & Nephew Ltd. It was a pivotal career move, and where her adventures began, leading her to work under the tutelage of then-master blender Owen Tulloch, who quickly recognised her exceptional olfactory abilities.

“Owen soon discovered that I had considerable organoleptic talent — the ability to detect, identify and differentiate complex aromas,” she recalled. Over the next 16 years, Spence immersed herself in the intricacies of the rum-making process, marrying the science with artistry as well as honing her sensory skills which she used to create spirits of global acclaim.

That dedication culminated in a historic moment: in 1997, Spence shattered a centuries-old glass ceiling when she was appointed the world’s first female master blender, which she expressed was, “A tremendous feat but a feat filled with many challenges. I am now referred to globally as ‘The Queen of Rum’.

“One of the biggest challenges for me at the time was the resistance from some of my male co-workers and some male consumers who thought it was impossible for a woman to be a master blender,” Spence shared candidly. “[They] believed this would be the end of rum.”

Rather than falter, Spence leaned into the pressure. “As a female in the rum industry, I was carrying the weight for other females and so I had to make sure I was successful. I had to work harder to gain recognition and experienced chauvinism in certain areas,” she shared.

That struggle became part of her motivation to mentor young women and contributions through the JWN Foundation, a mission rooted in personal experience and driven by a desire to ensure that talent, not gender, defines opportunity.

Modernisation led to greater efficiency at the company as advances in technology helped to move things forward at J Wray & Nephew.

“It was a different time when I started — most operations were labour-intensive. I have seen a lot of changes in my over 40 years. The modernisation of ageing, blending and bottling facilities, the creation of a First-World laboratory and the remodelling of our visitor centre,” Spence reflected.

“The most intriguing [thing] for me was how we transported our rum. There was a time when tankers made several trips daily across Spanish Town Road, carrying our rum from one facility to another. The logistics were complex, the traffic disruptions constant, and the process daunting. Then came modern engineering — a pipeline which now quietly and efficiently transfers our rum from one side of the road to the next, a testament to how innovation and evolution helped to solve age-old challenges.”

Among her proudest contributions is JWN’s commitment to global standards. Spence believes that the transformation of the company during her tenure has been among the greatest things to happen under her watch. She led charge in securing ISO 9000 certification in record time.

Spence shared, “We gave ourselves a stretch target of being the first company in the western hemisphere to achieve certification in six months starting from ground zero.”

As J Wray & Nephew Limited enters its third century, it does so not just as a purveyor of world-class spirits, but as a symbol of Jamaican ingenuity, resilience, and pride, with Joy Spence and the rest of the staff at its heart.

“The staff at J Wray & Nephew remains the heart of what we do; passionately working together, creating exceptional spirits that honour our Jamaican heritage for the last 200 years, while celebrating and looking forward to the next 200,” she said.