There has been perhaps no greater ambassador for the Virgin Islands in recent memory than Kenny Chesney, the legendary country music artist who fell in love with that corner of the Caribbean and has made it a centerpiece of his career – both in his life and his abundant philanthropic work.
From “Adios to Jost,” his beloved ballad of Jost Van Dyke and its Soggy Dollar Bar, to Songs for the Saints, the album whose proceeds went to Hurricane Irma relief, the islands, particularly the USVI (where he owns a home in St John), are a deep passion for Chesney.
It’s no surprise, then, that when choosing a rum to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Blue Chair Bay rum, he went back to the US Virgin Islands.
If you’re not familiar the Blue Chair Bay, it’s a line of mostly spiced rums and rum creams (and a white rum), many of which are the best in the category — the Key Lime expression, for example, is about as delicious a rum cream as you’ll ever find.
But to mark 10 years of the brand, Chesney went for an aged rum, one distilled in the US Virgin Islands. While the brand won’t reveal it, it’s almost certainly from a famous distillery in St Croix.
That means the starting point was a rather good one.
Chesney says the rum is the product of a selection of 20 barrels of 16-year-old rum distilled in the USVI, with a production of just 8,400 bottles.
So what’s it like?
On the nose, there’s toffee, vanilla, almond and a hint of spice.
The flavor profile is marked by brown sugar, licorice, orange zest and cardamom, shifting to a marriage of pepper and confectioner’s sugar on the finish.
It’s a delicate rum in the VI style, but one that builds to a crescendo on the finish.
It’s an elegant, robust Virgin Islands rum.
Whether you’re looking for a rare Chesney collectible, or a fine example of USVI rummaging, the Blue Chair Bay 10-year would be at home on your shelf.
Or on a beach in St John.
Rum Journal Review:
92 Points