Fall Sips: Two Saint Lucian Rums to Warm You Up🥃🍂

As the fall months settle in and the air grows cooler, there’s nothing quite like a little sip of something warm and inviting. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit Saint Lucia Distillers, home to some of the island’s finest rums. The experience was nothing short of amazing, and the rums? Absolutely delicious.

Two bottles in particular stood out and quickly earned a spot on our must-try list: Chairman’s Reserve 50th Anniversary Extra Old Rum and Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak Rum. Each brings its own character, perfect for sipping slowly as the leaves change and the evenings grow longer.

Chairman’s Reserve 50th Anniversary Extra Old Rum 🌟

This special bottling is a celebration in itself. Aged for 12 years and barreled in 2011, the Chairman’s Reserve 50th Anniversary Rum is a true masterpiece.

• Flavor Profile: Bold smoky tobacco notes with a touch of spice, giving it a slightly stronger, warmer kick.

• Crafting Method: Distilled using a combination of pot stills and Coffey column stills, then carefully aged in a mix of ex-bourbon, red wine, and white wine casks.

• Perfect For: Cooler nights when you want a spirit that wraps you up in warmth and complexity.

  
  

I couldn’t resist mixing this into an Old Fashioned: 3 oz of rum, a couple dashes of aromatic and orange bitters, and 1–2 barspoons of demerara simple syrup. The result? A rich, smoky cocktail with just enough sweetness and spice to warm you all the way through.

Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak Rum ⚓🍊

If Chairman’s Reserve is the bold storyteller, then Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak is the smooth conversationalist. Also aged for up to 12 years, this rum is a little gentler yet equally impressive.

• Flavor Profile: Bright, citrusy orange notes with a lighter, elegant smoothness.

• Crafting Method: Made exclusively from Coffey still rums, then blended and aged in American white oak bourbon casks for 6–12 years.

• Perfect For: A relaxed evening, when you want something refined but not overpowering.

Of course, I had to try this one in an Old Fashioned as well: same build, but the cocktail came across brighter and more refreshing thanks to those citrus notes. Where the Chairman’s version leaned bold and smoky, the Admiral Rodney Old Fashioned felt smooth, light, and perfectly balanced.

A Toast to Fall 🍁🥂

Whether you lean toward the rich, smoky intensity of Chairman’s Reserve or the smooth, citrus-forward elegance of Admiral Rodney, both rums shine equally well neat or stirred into a classic Old Fashioned. They remind us of the island warmth of Saint Lucia, even as the days here grow cooler.

If you’re looking for a way to elevate your evenings this season, we can’t recommend these two enough. Light a candle, pour a glass neat, or stir up an Old Fashioned, and let these rums do the rest.

Cheers to cozy nights and unforgettable sips! 🥃✨