Chairman's Reserve The Forgotten Casks Rum (700ml)

The (accidentally) extra-aged version of a St. Lucia classic.  

On May 2nd 2007 St. Lucia Distillers was struck by a major fire which destroyed the administration and blending facility. Mercifully most of the distillery was spared but suffered great problems with storage space for the casks. In the melee that followed cellar master, Mr. Cyril Mangal, was forced to find space for ageing casks in the most unusual places. Having done so the cellar team had a memory lapse and forgot the casks that had been laid down for the Chairman's Reserve. These casks were later discovered and upon tasting were found to contain a wonderfully complex rum which was decided to offer as a limited release.

A blend of Coffey and pot still rums, initial maturation took place in American white oak casks - Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace - separately by still. After blending, the rum was reintroduced to oak for a further five years. The standard Chairman’s Reserve is around 3 to 5 years old. This is apparently a combination of 6-11 year old material. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... On the palate, this one is undeniably “rummy,” and a bit more boozy than you’d likely expect for the subdued proof point. Molasses and very dark toffee lead off, but once again this is quite fruity, with a combination of notes that range from the brighter red fruit of cranberry and cherry to dried fruit notes of raisin or prune. Fine oak spices then enter the picture, as do baking spice notes of clove and ginger. Again, I find myself thinking of boozy Christmas fruitcake, as the ethanol adds a slightly antiseptic character that perhaps knocks the enjoyment here down just a tad. All in all, this is a rich and fruit-driven aged rum that will definitely play well in cocktails calling for that kind of character, but it doesn’t quite have the complexity and array of flavors present in the Chairman’s Reserve 1931—in particular, the more earthy tones and the dark chocolate/coffee likely added by that expression’s port barrel aging. The Forgotten Casks is somewhat more straightforward than that, but it certainly packs a respectable punch for a mere 80 proofer. - pastemagazine.com

Gold Medal & Best in Class at the IWSC 2011

Notes from the producers... Wonderfully intense aromas of sultana and hints of tobacco and vanilla from the oak with sweet honeyed fruit and spices giving a wonderfully balanced and complex flavour profile...