Overview
Brand: Chairman's Reserve
Origin: Saint Lucia Distillers Ltd., Roseau, Anse la Raye, Saint Lucia
Still: Pot
Age: 19 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 53.1%
At the same shop in Atlanta where I bought a bottle of 4 year Rhum JM single barrel, I also spotted this Chairman's Reserve single cask on the shelf. Always a sucker for a delicious Saint Lucian rum– especially with some age on it– I knew I couldn't leave without picking up one for myself.
This Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection single cask– selected by Elemental Spirits Co.– was distilled in the year 2000 using the John Dore 1 pot still at Saint Lucia Distillers. It was stored in an ex-Bourbon cask and laid to rest for nearly two decades, emerging from the aging warehouse at 19 years old. The rum was bottled at a respectable 53.1% ABV, yielding 341 bottles in total.
I've been enjoying long-aged Saint Lucian rums lately, so let's dig into this oldie and see what it's got in store for us.
Appearance
Orange brown, low viscosity
Nose
Fresh dates, cooked blueberries, apricot fruit leather, permanent marker, mesquite, brown sugar
Palate
Dates, blueberry tart, cooked raspberries, dried apricot, cola spice, nutmeg, brown sugar
Finish
Long, warm, balanced; cooked raspberries, cola, nutmeg, brown sugar, permanent marker, mesquite
Rating: 8/10
Summary
This 19 year Saint Lucian rum is an excellent pick by the team at Elemental Spirits Co. The traditional notes I get from Chairman's Reserve rum are present, but mellowed out by the long aging, and joined by heightened spice levels from the aging cask.
Lots of dates, cooked and baked berries, and apricot come through, with some more industrial and stinging aromas that resemble permanent marker appear on the nose. The palate and finish are more spicy than fruity, with mesquite, cola, nutmeg, and brown sugar rounding out after a burst of dark fruits.
This is a really elegant rum that has taken its aging in stride, yielding a product that was worth the wait. If you're in Atlanta, I highly suggest grabbing a bottle; at the price, it's a must-buy if you're not afraid of the cask influence.