Chairman's 2009 Master's Selection Netherlands 11-Year

taste - 9.5/10
smell - 9.5/10
sweetness - 7/10
price/value rating - 7.5/10

This is my very first Chairman’s. It is a different taste to me as I like spanish and sweet style of rums. Nose is strong with something in it I cannot identify but it is not my cup of tea. Taste is too dry,some tobacco and spices,not smooth even it is only 46%. I’ve got opened Foursquare 2009 with 60% and it does not have such strong alcohol kick like Chairman’s.
But I understand that for many experienced rum drinkers it can be interesting vintage of Chairman’s Reserve.

Chairmans Master Selection for the Netherlands, interestingly in 46% instead of the usually > 50%. A rum from a column distillation, Coffey Still Plate 32. At this point we are told how many metal plates are used in the column. The rum is 11 years old, was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2020. I have bottle 132 of 266. It costs between € 45 and € 50.

Smell: In the nose the rum comes directly with orange zest and therefore seems very flowery. It is strong at the beginning and stings a bit with sharpness in the nose. The wood is also quite present, but this is not unusual with such a heavy impact of wood varnish. It reminds me of Last Ward but also of Clarendon. I also notice vanilla and medicinal notes that remind me of TDL rums. Between these aromas there are sweet notes of caramel, but also the typical dried fruits that stand out especially during column distillation. I also smell some leather that gives the rum an even more complex character.
A very nice and intense smell that I would not have expected at 46%. I would have guessed barrel strength in a blind tasting.

Taste: The Chairman's starts slightly sweet with notes of caramel and dried fruits. Not I can notice the dilution, but it works fine. The orange zest immediately take their place on the palate and from then on dominate the taste. I perceive tannins with wood, which have an astringent (drying) effect in the mouth and bring out some bitterness behind the wood.
Then the oak or the barrel aromas flare up again and the dry fruits paves its way. It also creates a medical impression (like TDL).
The finish is long and spicy. The orange zest has a longer effect and an impression of leather remains on the palate.

Aftertaste: oranges, orange zest, leather, some caramel sweetness

Conclusion: An excellent Chairman's who allayed all my concerns about the dilution to 46% and pure column distillation. That's exactly why Chairman's is so good. They deliver incredibly good and intense flavors for a fantastic price.

Overall rating: 84 points

Sweetness: 2/5
Fruit: 3/5
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Complexity: 3.5 / 5
Value (50 €): 4/5