Review #713; Rum #163: Chairman’s Reserve Master Select 19yr (2000) JD1 “Spiribam Select”

This bottling comes to us from St. Lucia Distillers located on St. Lucia. This was distilled in 2000 on the John Dore pot still and matured entirely in St.Lucia in ex-bourbon before being bottled with no additives for the U.S. market. This is the longest matured St.Lucia I have tried to date.

ABV: 53.1%

Nose: Star Anise, Orange Zest, Guava, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, tannins

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Orange Zest, Lemon, Star Anise, Black Pepper, Tannins

Finish: Long, cough syrup, orange zest, tannins, Black Pepper

Rating: 6/10

While a very good rum, it doesn’t hit quite the highs some of the younger Chairman’s Reserve have for me. The cough syrup and fruit notes are very forward as are some of the spices. The dryness of the oak is welcome as well but a lot of the depth I feel some of the selections in the 8-13 year range are drowned by the cask. By no means a bad rum, for those who are oak hounds this is a bottling for you or as a very nice gift.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect