Chairman’s Reserve Legacy 5-8 Years

This is my first experience with a St. Lucian rum. I was originally going to hold out for a long aged Hamilton St. Lucia, but 2 things happened: the price of those skyrocketed and simultaneously the positive reviews of this rum started appearing. After a price comparison and availability comparison I decided to take a chance on this rum for my first St. Lucia experience. So how did I do? Let’s find out.

This rum is a mix of pot and column still distillates from molasses. It is aged in oak for an unstated amount of time (I am going to guess from the experience around 2-3 years but someone is free to correct me), and then bottled at 43%.

For a rum at 43% this is extremely fruity, like putting your nose in a fresh fruit basket. The pot still influence comes through clearly and reminds me of a smoother and very slightly toned down version of Smith & Cross. It has a lovely funk to it that is somewhere between Hampden and TCRL Fiji. Breaking the nose down gives me an interesting set of notes that form a delightful combination. I get ripe pear, ripe custard apple (a tropical fruit in the soursop family that is sweet and creamy, and happens to be my favorite of all fruits), coconut (faintly), then a bum rush of caramel covered apples followed by milk chocolate and the unique smell of fresh, uncooked maple sap (if you have ever been to a maple syrup farm and smelled the sap before it is boiled down into the syrup, that is the last and powerful note on the nose here).

Taking a sip this quickly exceeds expectations. In some ways that reminds me of Hamilton Jamaican Black in that what it promises on the nose it delivers in spades on the palate. The first sip brings in that pungent fruit basket note in full glory. It’s very lovely and very well done. I get caramel covered apples, ripe pear, oranges, more custard apple and coconut all in an exceedingly smooth and creamy presentation. I am rather impressed. This has both funk and class. Like if Hampden estate, Doorly’s, and Appleton got together and collabbed to produce a sipping rum at 43%. It’s got that Hampden funk, that caramel covered fruit of Foursquare, and that Appleton 12 Rare cask smoothness to it. I am not disappointed.

The finish is a little short but mostly mirrors the palate until the back end where I get new notes of Pine nuts, mineral water, and just the slightest of bitterness.

All in all this exceeds expectations. It delights and brings the funk while not stripping layers off your esophagus. It is fruity, funky, and smooth. Unfortunately, it is not quite as lasting as I would like, but that can be remedied by simply taking another sip. In total this is a great addition to the cabinet and at $40 definitely a repeat buy. Well done Mr. Chairman. You have created a fine legacy.

Short Description: If Hampden, Doorly’s, and Appleton collaborated to produce a fine sipping rum at 43%. Funky yet classy.

Nose: Extremely fruity, ripe pear, custard apple, faint coconut, strong caramel apple, chocolate, uncooked maple sap,

Palate: More pungent fruit, lovely, caramel apples, pear, oranges, custard apple, caramel covered apples, hints of coconut, creamy and very smooth on the tongue

Finish: short/medium, caramel, custard apple, apples, pine nuts, long afterwards a mineral water and slight bitterness

Country of Origin: St. Lucia

Distillery: St. Lucia Distillers

ABV: 43%

Please refer to my full tasting results on my review of Chairman's Reserve 1931, which also included this one and one other. This is a damn good rum, especially at only $41 US. However, when compared side by side with it's older brother Chairman's Reserve 1931, there is really no contest. The bitter aftertaste with a few drops of water added is what lowered my ranking on it. So just don't add water to this rum with 43% ABV, and you may even find it better than the 1931 version. Save your money and save the water!

My first ever St. Lucia rum. Fruity aroma with some ethanol odors. Flavors of tar and some fruityness.

Al naso è intenso con frutti rossi e maturati, legno, spezie, cioccolato
Al palato è soffice e dolce con cioccolato, caffè, legno e qualche spezia sul finale

Drank this rum as a part of the green rum box. Tried it neat, like all of the rums from the box. Didn't love it, but I would like to get a bottle someday and experience it better.

This did not really hit for me. It was ok, but not very interesting. Much more harsh notes than I anticipated from the hype, but perhaps I was going in with very high expectations.

Enjoyed at my home tiki bar, King Kahuna Lounge on 3/16/24. I will definitely want to replace this when it eventually gets empty.

Nose: Sweet and floral with some spice.

Taste/Palate: Spice, touch of oak and some ripe fruits at the end.

Finish: Not overpowering but has some depth and lingers a bit.

Would be an 8 if I gave value points.

I can't tell the difference between this and forgotten cask. I'm surprised at how unimpressed I was with this. Honestly I expected to be blown away and ranking it as an "8" but after noting the communities ratings and comments I couldn't help but agree. Don't get me wrong - its not terrible and in fact very respectable but just doesn't live up to the price tag vs other better rated "7" rums that are better value.

Chairman's Reserve Rum - Legacy (43%)
Duft: mørk sukker, fad, bitter.
Smag: varm og blød, masser af smag, mørk sukker, røg, lidt fad, let tør & sur/bitter.
Point: 5,5 (stor fylder, men lidt for tør og bitter)

Vůně: Pryskyřice, lepidlo, dřevitá, kůže, kouřová, lehce karamel
Chuť: Dřevitá, suchá, nahnilá tráva, tabák, whisková, hořká (tohle mi nesedlo)
Dochuť: Sudově mírnou nasládlost vystřídá hořkost tabáku a whisky
Max 6/10