I mentioned during my Bounty review that a mixologist friend of mine suggested that I get Chairman’s Reserve, but all they had at my local liquor store was Bounty, so it was my “we have Chairman’s Reserve at home” rum.

So anyway, I got the good stuff. Apparently, a while back, a fire destroyed their aging warehouse, so to salvage what they had, they threw barrels around the rest of the distillery, and many of them were forgotten for a while, and upon rediscovery, they realized that longer aging makes the rum better, so they started aging their rums for longer. So they decided to age rums for longer on purpose and make it a regular release.

Review

Smell

On the nose I get rich vanilla and oak, and not much else. It reminds me a lot of Spanish-style rums.

Taste

It is very bold with the oak and vanilla, and quite a good body. At first, I thought it tasted just like how I remembered Havana Club 7, but after going back and trying Havana Club 7, it’s like vodka in my mouth. It just doesn’t hold a candle to the richness of this rum. The closest rum that I have to this rum is actually Doorly’s 14 Yr. But, if anything, Doorly’s 14 Yr is basically even more concentrated, and then Chairman’s Reserve comes off as slightly anemic.

Verdict 7/10

This is pretty much what I wish all Spanish-style rums were like. Screw the sugar, screw the solera, just do whatever Chairman’s Reserve is doing. That said, much like with Doorly’s 14, I can only rate you so high when your only flavor is barrel, and on top of that, it also comes across as a little weak, probably because it’s only 40% while Doorly’s is 48%. Still a very good rum. I just wish it was a bit higher proof. Then again, it’s the same price as Doorly’s 14, so might as well just get that.