Oakwood – Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selection
I already featured the Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selection Coffee Still version in March 2026. Now, I also had the chance to review the John Dore Pot Still bottling. Yes, I mixed a cocktail with it, too.
Similar to the Coffee Still rum, the John Dore Pot Still is exclusively produced in Germany. After distillation in the eponymous still, the rum is aged for 12 years in St Lucia’s tropical climate in bourbon barrels. Furthermore, the rum is bottled at a cask strength of 62.3% ABV.
Powerful oak notes
On the nose, you initial get the typical Chairman’s Reserve dried coconut chip flavour. Soon afterwards you are hit with ester notes, burnt molasses and sugarcane. You can taste a lot of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. On top of that, I was almost overwhelmed by the rum’s oak flavours. Twelve years of ageing in the Caribbean certainly left their mark!
Keeping it simple
Since the Chairman’s Reserve Rum Master’s Selection Pot Still has a higher price tag and a lot of ABV, I decided to use it sparingly in a cocktail. The classic Rum Old-Fashioned came to mind as a template. I had previously used coconut water ice cubes in a drink, so I revisited that idea. I also adjusted the type of bitters and syrup to complement the rum, and that was basically it.
2 Dashes Bittered Sling Plum & Rootbeer Bitters
0,75 cl Salted Demerara Syrup
Built – Double Old-Fashioned glass over Coconut Water Ice Cubes – stir;
Garnish: Large Orange Twist;
Song: Angus & Julia Stone – Oakwood;
The drink is ever changing thanks to the coconut water ice cubes. Initially, classic Rum Old-Fashioned notes dominate. However, as it dilutes further, a refreshing coconut flavour emerges. It also adds a subtle extra layer of sweetness.
*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. I received the rum for free from Ferrand Spirits.
