IF THINGS had gone another way, it never would have made its way into the glass.

Indeed — this rum would have already been consumed by someone else.

But fate had something else in store.

It was in 2007 when a major fire destroyed the administration and blending facility at the headquarters of St Lucia Distillers.

During the aftermath, the distillery’s cellar master, Cyril Mangal, had to look for a place to store many of the rums that had been aging in the distillery at the time.

But by a happy accident, the rums’ new locations was forgotten. And several years later, the casks of aged rum were discovered.

Thus Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks was born, a group of limited-edition rums that time truly forgot.

These special St Lucian rums are a blend of pot and coffey still rums, aged in American white oak.

Due to its aging, the rum has a slightly darker amber colour, with an aroma of caramel, molasses and a hint of licorice.

This very rich but velvety spirit has a flavour profile dominated by spice, cacao, dried fruits, cappuccino and a slight hint of pepper.

The finish is syrupy with notes of oak and cognac.

When taken on the rocks, the oak begins to stand out, as the rum takes on stronger profiles of chocolate and coffee, the finish shifting to something closer like vanilla.

All in all, a very, very satisfying rum — and very high on the drinkability scale.