Chairman‘s Reserve Vintage 2009

Chairman's Reserve is the flagship line of Saint Lucia Distillers, and this 2009 vintage is an eleven year old built from the island's blend of pot and column still rum. Made from molasses and aged in ex-bourbon oak, it sits in a drier, more savoury register than the soft Spanish style rums, with a smoky character that gives it real individuality.

The profile leans dry, smoky and woody, with tobacco, leather and roasted nuts over a base of tropical fruit and dried fruit, deepening through the finish. At 46% it has enough weight to feel serious without the aggression of a cask strength bottling, and the wood, smoke and tobacco make it a natural companion to a cigar or a quiet evening. This is a contemplative sipper rather than a casual pour, a smart way into Saint Lucia for drinkers who enjoy dry, oak forward rum or lightly peated whisky. Those expecting sweetness will find it firmly on the dry, smoky side, which is where its character lies.