In my humble opinion, this is the apex expression of St. Lucia Distillery’s Chairman’s Reserve range. As much as I loved the Chairman's 16-Year-Old Florida Rum Society Cask that we offered earlier this year, this one outdoes it in just about every metric. The expertise of master blender Deny Duplessis is on full display in this incredibly refined and poised stunner. The nose leads with subtle yet very complex citrus and quickly segues to heady varnish and petrol notes, before going back to the tropical side with mango and passionfruit. The savory side of the Chairman’s style comes out super-deep baking spices, pipe tobacco, salted chocolate, and Christmas cake before a flourish of high-toned cardamom. The palate is simply gorgeous in texture and mouthfeel, with the spice profile from the nose coming through in spades, down to the last detail. The citrus and tropical fruits are present in deep, concentrated blood orange and dried, candied mango that carry into a medium-long finish of Earl Grey tea and cardamom. I can’t emphasize how easy this is to drink, despite its incredibly heady complexity, so take your time and don’t get carried away. Or grab two bottles and let yourself get carried away. You can’t go wrong either way.
95 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Jul 2026)
Enticing, concentrated layers of dried stone fruit and funk lead into an intense palate. Apricot jam and baked apple mix with oak, pecan, nutmeg and torched cinnamon, enfolded by a whiff of campfire smoke.
95 points, Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2023)
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