Chairman’s Reserve Legacy Saint Lucia Rum
Chairman's Reserve Legacy Saint Lucia Rum is the art-of-blending showcase of the range — and a tribute to Laurie Barnard, the former rum maker, chairman and managing director of Saint Lucia Distillers: an 86-proof (43% ABV), 750mL blend of molasses distillate from the distillery's two John Dore pot stills and its Coffey column still, plus a small proportion (about 8%) of fresh sugarcane juice distilled in the Vendôme pot still — a nod to Barnard's cane-growing program and the distillery's proprietary yeast. Aged in ex-bourbon American white oak casks, with no added sugar. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL (US)
- Blend: molasses distillate (2 pot stills + Coffey column) + ~8% fresh-cane-juice Vendôme pot-still distillate
- Aging: ex-bourbon American white oak, most sources cite 5–8 years
- Distillery: Saint Lucia Distillers, Roseau Valley, Saint Lucia
- Tribute: honors Laurie Barnard (d. 2012), creator of the Chairman's Reserve line
A Legacy in the Blend
Chairman's Reserve was Laurie Barnard's creation in 1999, and Legacy is the distillery's memorial to him — built around the two things he championed: serious pot-still blending and estate sugarcane. That cane-juice fraction, distilled agricole-style in the Vendôme still, is the signature move: it threads a grassy-herbal undertone through the molasses rum's tropical fruit and spice. For the rum shelf's sipping corner, this is Saint Lucia's blending craft at its most expressive.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows vanilla, banana and pineapple. The palate is intense — grilled tropical fruit and spice over subtle oak, with a grassy-herbal agricole undertone from the cane-juice fraction; the finish is warm and lasting, with butterscotch, dates, caramel and ripe pear.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a snifter to catch the agricole thread, or over a single cube. It elevates a Daiquiri or a rum Old Fashioned beyond the ordinary. Pair with crème brûlée, tropical fruit, or dark chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Laurie Barnard?
The former rum maker, chairman and managing director of Saint Lucia Distillers (d. 2012) who created the Chairman's Reserve line in 1999.
What makes Legacy different?
About 8% of the blend is fresh sugarcane juice distilled in the Vendôme pot still — an agricole-style fraction honoring Barnard's cane program.
Is sugar added?
No — naturally sweet with no added sugar.
How old is the rum?
Aged in ex-bourbon oak; most sources cite five to eight years, one distillery-tour account says five to six.
Explore more Chairman's Reserve rums and our rum collection. Tribute bottlings this well-blended are gone once they're gone — order Chairman's Reserve Legacy online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.