Overview

Brand: Chairman's Reserve, Master's Selection series

Origin: Saint Lucia Distillers Ltd., Roseau, Anse la Raye, Saint Lucia (picked by Lincoln Road Package Store)

Still: Column

Age: 11 years

Finish: ex-Bourbon

ABV: 57.8%

Somehow it's been sixteen reviews since we last looked at a Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection single barrel. We're back at it again today, with a selection from Lincoln Road Package Store in Hattiesburg, MS.

These Master's Selection bottles have become something I tend to pick up when traveling and spot one; mostly because they aren't available in the Memphis market yet, but also because they are a great value for their reasonable price points.

The team at Lincoln Road selected cask #119022008, which was distilled in 2009 at Saint Lucia Distillers (SLD). This Master's Selection features 100% Coffey column still distillate, which was aged in an ex-Bourbon cask for 11 years. It was bottled at a strength of 57.8% ABV, which yielded 236 bottles (I have #108– shout out to fellow Lost fans).

Appearance

Orange-brown, medium viscosity

Nose

Cranberries, raspberries, freshly mixed dough, molasses, candied oranges, vanilla beans

Palate

Raspberries, strawberries, vanilla, molasses, sweet red grapes, underripe pineapple, dried dates

Finish

Long, fruity, slightly bitter; oak, red grapes, cranberries, brown sugar

Rating: 7/10

Summary

This is a really fun single barrel rum; it's got strength, bright fruits, and savory molasses and really takes your senses on a rollercoaster. Each sip I get a little something different, and these flavors and aromas come in waves. The body is so rich that it almost gets to the point of being overwhemling, but that doesn't take away any of the enjoyment.

Lots of red fruits are present throughout, along with molasses and vanilla beans. Other fun notes weaving in and out of the forefront include freshly mixed flour dough, red grapes, and dried dates; this fruity and savory complexity creates a really delicious rum. This is really reminiscent of the recent Isautier traditional 16 year release, with the amount of red fruit notes and full body.

Another great showing from a Master's Selection single barrel, and an excellent pick by the Lincoln Road team. I love seeing the fully column side of SLD's capabilities, when so many of these releases are blends of a number of stills.

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Further Reading