New Expressions at Down Island Spirits

DOWN ISLAND SPIRITS ADDS TWO NEW EXPRESSIONS TO THEIR LINE OF SINGLE CASK RUMS.

Miami, FL JUNE, 2023 – On the heels of their successful inaugural releases, Down Island Spirits is set to launch two new additions to their sought after line of single cask rums.  The latest expressions hail from Brazil and Martinique, and bring a wild array of fresh aromas and flavors.

Martinique 2017 and Brazil 2011, the latest expressions from Down Island Spirits

“We were thrilled by the reception of our first four rum bottlings late last year,” said Mike Streeter, the founder and owner of Down Island Spirits.  “Our brand aims to truly add to the availability of top-quality cane spirits in the US and we feel that our latest casks from Martinique and Brazil will do just that.  They are both exceptionally flavorful rums made by distilleries who have a long history of excellence in the industry.”

Down Island’s 100% cane juice bottling from Martinique was column distilled in 2017 at a well-established distillery in Sainte-Marie, a rural community on the French-Caribbean island.  It was aged for 6 years in once-used Bourbon casks and bottled in Florida without the use of additives, coloring or filtration.  Like the rest of the Down Island Spirits collection, this expression is bottled at cask strength, 58% abv.

On the nose, fresh aromas of ripe apples, black pepper and musty brine dominate the Martinique 2017, followed by more subtle earthy notes and oak.  On the palate, a play of cinnamon, black pepper, grass, vanilla and lemongrass dance on the tongue followed by a finish of allspice, tea and tobacco. 

The Brazil Rum bottling from Down Island Spirits was column distilled in Sao Roque at Epris Distillery in 2011.  It is an 80/20 blend of cane juice and molasses rum that was aged for 6 years in Amburana wood barrels and an additional 6 years in American Oak.  It is free of additives, coloring and filtration, and was bottled at cask strength, 55.1% abv.

The aroma of Brazil 2011 is full of lovely floral and tropical fruit notes with distinct black pepper, spice and brown sugar in the back.  The spice punch of the Amburana wood comes forward on the palate and is well-balance with notes of pineapple, breakfast syrup and burnt ginger.  The finish is a lovely frisk of Amburana spice, cloves and a hint of anise.

The new Down Island Spirits expressions have garnered early buzz from collectors and enthusiasts due to their origin and overall unique nature of the distillate. “We have been fortunate to draw a loyal group of fans and friends from these very early days of our brand,” said Streeter.  “We think that our Brazil and Martinique rums will meet and hopefully exceed the high expectations of our customer base.  Early feedback has been incredible.”

Distribution for Down Island Spirits currently focuses on Florida and Massachusetts with New York, Texas and California expansion in the works for late 2023/24.  Online retail orders and shipping to 40+ states is available at downislandspirits.com.

About Down Island Spirits
Down Island Spirits was developed in 2021 “by rum geeks, for rum geeks.”  Their Single Cask Rum Series enthusiastically focuses on unique, high-quality cane spirits from the best distilleries on the planet.  These limited edition bottlings are always presented at cask-strength and untainted by additives, coloring and filtration.  Discover more about the brand and upcoming releases at downislandspirits.com and across all social channels.

Appleton Estate Ruby Anniversary

Appleton Estate, a global leader in premium aged rums, is proud to announce the launch of Ruby Anniversary Edition, a limited-edition release celebrating Master Blender Joy Spence’s 40 years of craftsmanship with the distillery. Ruby Anniversary  Edition is an exclusive release unlike any before it in the brand’s 270-year history: it is a blend of 5 exceptionally rare Jamaica rums, aged for a minimum of 35 tropical years, and including rums as old as 45 years, resulting in a complex sipping rum like no other. With only 500 bottles available, this offer is a luxurious gem for rum lovers, a commemorative release for the first female Master Blender in the spirits industry, and a taste of decades of craftsmanship and dedication.

The Ruby Anniversary Edition is a limited-edition release celebrating Master Blender Joy Spence’s 40 years of craftsmanship with the distillery.
The Ruby Anniversary Edition is a limited-edition release celebrating Master Blender Joy Spence’s 40 years of craftsmanship with the distillery.

There can be only one woman to hold the title of “First Female Master Blender in the Spirits Industry,” and that woman is Joy Spence. Her trailblazing accomplishment is proof of her pioneering mindset and commitment to excellence in her work. An energetic, unbelievably skilled and deeply passionate force of nature, Joy has worked at Appleton Estate for four decades and proudly served as its Master Blender for nearly a quarter of a century, pouring her vast knowledge and perfectionism into every bottle of Jamaica’s most-celebrated rum. Joy’s unparalleled sensory skills, allowing her to detect the most delicate notes in her rums, are the crowning jewel of her dedication and expertise.

“Forty years ago, I had the opportunity to channel my passion, talent, and knowledge into a role at Appleton Estate,” recalls Spence. “I was honored to join one of the most revered world-class brands, in the place I call home. Forty years later,” Spence continues, “from luxury editions to permanent expressions, I am still immensely proud to continue to innovate and produce luxurious aged rums at the highest quality standards, suited for every occasion. Since 1981, my goal has been to create the world’s most exquisite, refined aged rums and to share them with the world. This special edition marks a milestone for me and was created using some of the finest stock in our over 200,000 barrels.”

Produced at the oldest continuously-operating rum distillery in Jamaica,  Ruby Anniversary Editionis an exquisite blend of five hand-selected column and pot-still rums, crafted with Jamaican limestone-filtered water, with no added flavours, and aged in Jamaica – a taste of the excellence of the land and its people. Aged a minimum of 35 years, one of the charms of the Ruby Anniversary Edition is rooted in its strict ageing process. Each bottle contains liquid as old as 45 years and as young as 35 – a luxurious time capsule to taste the flavour of decades in the tropics. Due to Jamaica’s climate, Appleton Estate rums age nearly three times more quickly than spirits aged in cooler climates, allowing for richer, fuller flavors to develop in a shorter period of time – meaning that the minimum age of 35 years in the tropical climate of Jamaica is equivalent to over 100 years of ageing in a cooler climate, thanks to the significant loss of liquid by evaporation. “Heaven’s envy” is captured in the very limited quantity of liquid bottled for this release.

A truly unique collector’s item, Ruby Anniversary Edition is a true work of craftsmanship and expertise, an ode to the talent of iconic Master Blender Joy Spence. To mark such an occasion, a ritual must be encouraged for tasting. Best enjoyed neat or in a tulip-shaped Glencairn snifter, nosing the rum will announce the powerful aromas of cinnamon with minty orange bouquet. Next, airing the rum will reveal notes of delicate apple, overlaying rich vanilla, and continue with bursts of warm butterscotch, and rich coffee with toasted oak. Sipping this luxurious rum reveals on the palate with a delicate molasses and spicy honeyed taste. The finish is delicately smooth, with creamy dry oak– a complex sipping rum meant to be enjoyed slowly. 

Appleton Estate Ruby Anniversary Edition is a limited-edition release, with only 500 bottles available at the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Retail Rum Experience in Jamaica and at select premium retailers starting in January 2022.