J. Wray and Nephew Ltd. facts for kids
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A bottle of Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum.
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| Type | Rum |
|---|---|
| Region of origin | Jamaica |
| Introduced | 1825 |
J. Wray and Nephew Ltd. is a company in Kingston, Jamaica, that makes, mixes, and bottles a famous type of drink called rum. The company has a long and interesting history on the island.
Contents
History of the Company
The Beginning
The story of J. Wray and Nephew began in 1825. A man named John Wray opened a business called "The Shakespeare Tavern" in the city of Kingston. It was a popular spot.
In 1860, Wray asked his nephew, Charles James Ward, to help him. Ward was very good at the business side of things. When Wray retired in 1862, he left the company to Ward.
Growing and Winning Awards
Ward was a great businessman. He turned the small tavern into one of Jamaica's biggest companies that sold its products to other countries.
The company's rums became famous for their quality. At a big event in London in 1862 called the International Exhibition, J. Wray and Nephew won three gold medals. They won more awards at shows in Paris (1878), Amsterdam (1883), and New Orleans (1885).
Joining with Appleton Estate
In 1916, another company bought Wray & Nephew. Soon after, the new company purchased the Appleton Estates. This was a large sugar plantation that had been making rum since 1749. The estate is located in a beautiful part of Jamaica called Cockpit Country.
For many years, the Appleton Estate used the labor of enslaved people to grow sugarcane and produce rum. This was a difficult part of Jamaica's history. Today, the estate covers over 11,000 acres and has its own sugar factory and distillery.
Modern Times
In 1997, a major event happened. Joy Spence became the "master blender" for the company. A master blender is like a head chef for rum, deciding how to mix it to create the perfect taste. Joy was the first woman in the world to ever have this important job in the industry.
In 2012, a large company from Italy called the Campari Group bought J. Wray & Nephew.
More recently, in 2021, the company started a program called Wray Forward. This program helps support Black business owners and their companies in the United Kingdom.
Brands and Products
J. Wray & Nephew makes several different types of rum and other drinks. Some of their most well-known brands are listed in the table below.
| Brand | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum | A very popular brand in Jamaica. |
| Wray and Nephew 43 | A newer product, this is a blend of white Jamaican rum with fruit flavors. |
| J. Wray Gold Jamaican Rum | A golden-colored rum. |
| Sainsbury's Superior Dark Rum | This rum won a gold medal at an international competition in 2010. |
| Coruba Jamaica Rum | Another one of the company's rum brands. |
| Appleton Special Jamaica Rum | A popular rum from the Appleton Estate. |
| Appleton Estates Jamaica Rums | This includes many different aged rums, such as 8-Year-Old and 12-Year-Old varieties. |
| Koko Kanu | A coconut-flavored rum. |
| Old Tom Gin | The company also produces a type of gin. |
Some old bottles of Wray and Nephew rum from the 1940s are now very rare. Collectors value them at around $54,000 per bottle.
