Aroma visualization from community tastings
Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (Grape of the Art & RumX) 2005
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Best poured neat and given air — the glue notes blow off and leave roasted wood, coffee, black tea and dried tropical fruit, with a menthol kick on the finish. At 61.5% the alcohol sits surprisingly well-integrated. Several tasters swore it was a tropically-aged Jamaican or Clarendon blind. Dry, spicy, and layered rather than sweet.
The community says- Well-integrated alcohol
- Complex and deep
- Keep in mind: Woody and roasty
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Buying advice
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Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums.
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The look inside the bottle
How does Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (Grape of the Art & RumX) 2005 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Dry, roasty St. Lucia pot-still sipper One of the most-loved Chairman's here — deep, dry and spicy with roasted wood and menthol. A few find it too woody and roasty; not an easy sipper.
Aroma profileFans of dry, tropically-aged pot-still rum
Beginners or anyone wanting a sweet, easy sipper
Style & occasion: Mature & oaky
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
50 of 94 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
94 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
45 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 94 ratings, including those without text.
Review by Mirco
Most helpful positive review
One of my first Lucias. Still a bottling that I like sensationally well. This is mainly due to the amount of chocolate and cherries, which is totally reminiscent of a Black Forest gateau. Top!
Review by Vincent D
Most helpful mixed review
Spicy but greedy nose, on vanilla and caramel.In the mouth, it is strong and intense.Very woody. Long finish but still strong and without the sweetness I like. Leather and lime bitterness come in.Above the Whisky Exchange and the Nectar but still not my thing.Edit: not better. Alcohol definitely too present.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Unbelievably awesome Chairmans. Extremely intense with lychee, mango, salted caramel and not too much wood and nice spice. Alcohol perfectly integrated, very dry yet complex and the finish of canned lychees & menthol is just amazing. Awesome cask choice, chapeau Oli & team! ❤️
Review by Jakob
The long tropical ageing is reflected in intense woody notes with hints of coffee, as well as heavy dark dried fruit, a spicy mixture of leather, licorice and pepper, black tea and mint. A rum not free of bitter notes, but of impressive aromatic diversity and vibrancy. Outstanding St. Lucia!
Review by Thunderbird
An exceptional St. Lucia... a play of aromas! On the nose many fruit aromas of cherries and lychees and a caramelized smoky sweetness, the palate switches to a roasted burnt bitter espresso note! A slight caramelized sweetness develops towards the end! With bigger sips the alcoholic presence comes very strongly to the fore! The finish is fruity again... it mainly reminds me of dried mango or similar tropical fruits, which are also caramelized! A very complex exciting rum
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is simply a really good Chairman's that I enjoy on a regular basis. Very strong flavor profile that you can smell from a good distance. First bottle is almost gone and I'm happy that I have a backup bottle right behind it 😊 A very nice cask with warm spicy notes and a very long finish. Licorice and coffee is more obvious in the empty glass after a while.
Review by Leo Krüper
Really good. Beautiful, heavy rum that you notice the 15 years tropical. Alcohol great integrated, so that you can drink it even super without being overwhelmed. Gladly more of it.
Review by Rene Pfeiffer
Very smooth and round yet with many aromas. Similar character to the other tasted Chairman's RA and German Edition, but at least in direct comparison to the German much rounder and sweeter. The alcohol is perfectly integrated here, while in the German you can clearly feel it. Here maybe the difference between 100% Vendome Pot Still (German Edition) and 50% John Dore 1 and 50% Vendome Pot Still (GotA) shows. Overall a great rum. Now also tried in comparison with the RomDeLuxe 2000. The RdL is slightly better because more intense, but clearly more expensive. The local GotA is for me the price-performance winner of all Saint Lucia rums I've tasted. So now one more point (91).
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
I have not yet warmed to the Chairman's Saint Lucia. Were somehow too dominant alcoholic for me. But this one is different, simply stunning, so round and deep! Alcohol perfectly integrated. And yes, very similar to a tropically matured Clarendon (e.g. the RA EMB 1995). Congratulations on the fine touch, GotA
Review by lukasdrinkinghabits
St. Lucia has its own style, which is also clearly recognizable here. Blindly, I would probably have taken it for a tropically matured Clarendon anyway: Thanks to the balance of tropical fruit, some bitter spiciness and a hard-to-define herbaceousness that reminds me of black tea and eucalyptus.Extremely low alcohol on the nose despite barrel strength - not the rule in St. Lucia, unfortunately.In the mouth dust-dry, astringent tannins, the tropical fruit immediately freeze-dried (dried mango). The alcohol also super integrated here. Nevertheless, the mouth falls a bit compared to the nose because of the dominant wood. The finish adds an intense passion fruit all at once. This is one of the most delicious finishes in a long time!Thanks for the sample!
Review by Tschusikowsky
For me one of the best Chairman's bottlings I've had. Alcohol well integrated, less rough than the distillery's standard but still lots of steam and complexity. Also works very well in a Mai Tai.
Review by zabo
I've just seen that I haven't even rated it yet when tasting it again. It's already very tasty. For me, with the Kirsch bottling, it's one of the tastiest from Saint Lucia. I hope Sascha still has a bottle hidden away somewhere that he can hand over.
Review by Martin Ekrt
Since the bottle is finished, but I still have two shots left. Beautiful technical nose with eucalyptus. Taste-wise nice wildness, but to my liking. Tropical fruit, technicality, licorice etc. Finish similarly and maybe a bit of mint, leather and peated whisky with it.
Review by Rodolphe
Along with Nectar 15, this is the best Chairman I've ever tasted. Excellent fruit and deliciousness. A great complexity where each aroma finds its place, it's very well balanced. Super rum! Merci Oli tu assures! 👍😁
Review by RumTaTa
Very complex nose with many different aromas. Here I particularly like the sour cherries 🙂 In the mouth, the alcohol is first very present and then transports a blast of barrel aromas, coffee and dark chocolate. Behind that, tropical and dried fruits shine through.In the aftertaste, especially the earthy tones come back again. A very powerful rum with a tendency to woody.
Review by HenryL
One of the most impressive rums I've ever tasted. Super intense on the nose, the tropical aging is unmistakable here. Very spicy and woody on the palate, just still on the pleasant side for me. The whole thing is also complemented by black tea and fruity espresso. The menthol note on the finish is amazing.
Review by mto75
The CR GotA/RumX goes head-to-head with the CR RA/RTN and the CR Nectar15. The first thing you notice is that the GotA is much closer to the Nectar15 in terms of color and nose than the RA/RTN (which I attribute to the 15 years in the barrel of both compared to the 9 years of the RA/RTN). The GotA has dried fruits, intense spices like cardamom and nutmeg, bourbon and a subtle chewing tobacco sweetness. The RA/RTN is fresher, more in the direction of young wood, while the Nectar15 is more red fruit and butterscotch. The GotA is immediately present on the palate, less spicy than the RA/RTN, but also less sweet than the Nectar (more towards tar). The GotA is yet another improvement on the already really good RA/RTN, but it doesn't quite knock the Nectar15 off its throne.
Review by Serge
Finally tried it... during the sample swap at Zabo. Thanks for the dram 👌 Nice fruity (continental fruits with apple/pear meet dried fruit, mango and other tropical fruits) with great wood maturation, fine bitter notes, black tea, menthol... everything's there.
Review by Galli33
This is one of the top line from Chairman’s Reserve! Nose: Nice fruity, baking spice, mango, petrol notes. Palate: Finish: Long, dry and delicious. Reaaly smooth mint and licorice notes paired with fruits like lime, mango and apricot in a wooden tray. Very cool stuff! In comparsion to the Kirsch one, this is less balanced and more on the spicy side, but without being astringend at any time.
Review by DosenZorn
Wonderful dessert rum without being particularly sweet or fruity. The aroma of dark chocolate is fantastic. I really like it and regret not ordering a bottle when I had the chance. Addendum: the fruity note on the nose is great and I haven’t been able to assign it to any other Saint Lucia rum so far.
Review by w00tAN
The smell seduces you. Smoky, spicy, fine ester notes and great depth. On the palate then super spicy, tobacco, black tea, mint and roasted aromas. Really a great piece and from memory more harmonious than the Kirsch. Direct comparison still pending (Thanks to Kevin for the sample).
Review by Mentalo
After a longer time back in the glass and I have to upgrade the bottling. The alcohol is well integrated. Slightly medicinal notes, fruity (mango), slightly smoky, woody note. Relatively dry. A bit of menthol on the finish. That harmonizes well.
Review by Basti
Very intense on the nose with licorice, leather, roasted aromas, caramel, tobacco. It unfolds more and more with time in the glass. On the palate, many roasted notes, licorice, leather, bitter substances, wood, caramel. Very intense! Lingers very long on the palate!
Review by Andi
The rum is really amazing, especially compared to other Chairmans this one feels deeper and better.
Review by DomM
Very complex and nicely balanced between wood / spices / fruits and menthol/herbal notes. Very intensive throughout with a long finish. Highly recommended.
Review by Lukas Jäger
I'm not a St. Lucia expert, but I'd say this is something special! With aromas of dark fruits, a certain sweetness on the nose, and a fine floral note, it shows a profile I didn't necessarily associate with the Chairmans. Together with the present spicy-nutty undertone, it gains a pleasant depth and complexity. On the palate, I'm especially surprised by the very dominant bitter flavors, pronounced but not disturbing. Tar, tannins, and a metallic aftertaste create a dirtiness I would place somewhere between Caroni and KFM, without wanting to put it on the same level as them. This rum is something unique that I really like! Many thanks to Olli for letting me try it already!
Review by Simon Leroux
Very nice finish, just before a successful palate!
Review by Tim
More agreeable nose due to the higher fruit and caramel content, although you can already guess a heavy rum, which is due to the strong influence of the bourbon barrel. Very heavy, dry, sharp, smoky and bitter notes meet herbal notes like mint and tea in the mouth. Not a beginner rum in my opinion! Roasty tendencies like coffee can be found alongside citrus fruits and again black tea in the finish.
Review by Pavel Spacek
Even if Rum-X made great choice(the best Chairmans I have tasted) , Chairmans is not my favourite rum taste.
Review by Alex1981
Super good! Towards Guyana, dark fruits & leather notes, burnt sugar, black tea. Powerful but well integrated alcohol. Wood is there but not dominant. Great bottling at a good price, highly recommended!
Review by SaibotZtar
Actually one of the Chairmans Reserve SLDs that I like to drink.... great bottling.
Review by Frank
Compared to the 9 yo RA+RumX... Nose: became intensely fruity, almost floral-fruity. Green apple and currant, now also sour cherry and lemon. Less sour peaks. Slight vinegar here, maybe a bit more towards wax. A sweetness of burnt sugar is added. Palate: less dark than its brother. Sweet-fruity, red currant and most likely kumquat, so a bit more bitter mandarin. Sweetness of candied fruits and fruit bread. There's also an anise/mint note that develops towards tea, sesame and violet. Violet in the finish. Rounder and more complex, very nice Chairman's.
Review by Skyfly
A really brutal rum that blows me away. The long tropical aging delivers a perfectly composed combination of fruit, roasted to burnt wood, mint, leather, and various coffee notes.
Review by Chrischi78
Oh this is great. A massive body with very well integrated alcohol. Broad, complex aromas. I think I'm the first to also taste the "dirty" aromas, but I'm really impressed dude!
Review by Gregor
I'm smell Barbados and I'm taste very much Guyana.
Review by Marcel.
Very well balanced mild and smooth rum. One of the best I ever had. Lots of spices, cinnamon, all spice, pastry’s, cookie dough, sweet with honey, lots of lychee some bitter black tea and wood. Somehow this rum got it all,very balanced amazing drink. Want a bottle of this now but I guess iam late for this one.
Review by Schnubbii
On the nose banana, Jamaica maybe a Worthy Park? With some time in the air, leather also comes through and some freshness, along with tobacco and light smoke. The nose alone is stunning, but on the palate then the big show. Like the Kirsch bottling, but even rounder. Great bottling, unfortunately you probably won't find a bottle that easily anymore.
Review by Nils123
What a hammer. Powerful, strong and yet super complex and harmonious. The mint note fits perfectly.
Review by Buddudharma
Great St. Lucia! Complex profile with high recognition value, well integrated alcohol, great value for money. A pleasure! After the first bottle I have to correct upwards significantly: For me one of the best rums I have ever had in the glass. A masterpiece!
Review by Wernie
Compared to yesterday's Kirsch Import, I have to say this one is too woody/toasty for me. Here the nose and palate are equal for me, but the amazing nose of the Kirsch is unbeatable, so this one ranks just behind it.
Review by julie
Wow this is excellent and exceeded my expectations. I thought this would be a slightly on the sweeter side, however it turns out to be quite bitter and astringent but in a really good way. I’ve been nosing this glass for a while now and am amazed at the complexity and depth. Simply heartwarming. A sample I will cherish for a long time…
Review by rbfsnow
Fantastic Chairmans JD1/Vendome blend 🥰😍🤩😋
Review by Nivius
The best of John Dore and Vendome.I'm still mega grateful to the guys from Armagnac.de that they wanted to turn me on the absolutely.This rum is incredibly densely packed with flavors of wood, leather, glue, tropical fruits, honey and floral tones and you taste every time something new out, including complex long finish.The thing is .... or was .... the madness !The best St.Lucia, which I had so far in the glass.- did I mention that the thing is hammer ? :P
Review by Pavel Ungr, RumRock
Vintage 2005. With 8.8 out of 10, it belongs to the better ones I've had in my glass.
Review by Han
Spicy and little fruity - not an easy sipper. Very consciously to drink. But then after some time in the glass when the glue notes have disappeared very tasty. Different from the other Master Selections - trying them all is worth it!
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 8.8/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Zucker und Zeste
Mega nose, fruity, woody, glue and mild despite barrel strength. On the palate then predominantly spicy, toasty, woody (not too much) and then also bitter and dry. The dried fruit then comes out again in the finish. I really liked it. Blind I would have typed on an older tropically stored Jamaican.
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
St. Lucia World Cup Tasting
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by Les amis des amis du Rhum
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Expert review by Tasting Bro's
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Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (Grape of the Art & RumX) 2005 at live auctions
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90 bottles logged by 54 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
18% opened, 7 emptied.
What did the community pay for Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (Grape of the Art & RumX) 2005?
Community paid 110–120 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 110 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
90 purchased · 97 tasted · 51 wishlist · as of
Details about Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (Grape of the Art & RumX) 2005
A Pot Still Rum from Saint Lucia, distilled by Saint Lucia Distillers, at 61,5%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Chairman's Reserve Master's Selection (6. Rum & Co) 2004
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
We selected and bottled this rum together with our community: one of 7 RumX co-bottlings since 2020.
Oliver, Stuttgart
About RumX › All the co-bottlings and their stories YouTube channel (German, English subtitles)
