Meet the Makers

Spirits · Roseau Valley, Saint Lucia

St Lucia Distillers

Saint Lucia's own rum distillery, home of Chairman's Reserve.

Founded
1972
Based in
Roseau Valley, Saint Lucia

Making it since

1972

Their story

St Lucia Distillers traces its roots to the Barnard family, who settled on Saint Lucia in the 1830s and set up their own distillery in 1932. In 1972 the family joined with Geest Industries to form St Lucia Distillers in the island's lush Roseau Valley.

In 1999 the distillery created Chairman's Reserve, named for then-chairman Laurie Barnard, a third-generation rum maker. The Barnard family sold its remaining shares in 2005 to Clico Barbados Holdings, with Laurie Barnard staying on as managing director.

How it's made

The distillery imports molasses from Guyana several times a year, which is pumped up from the Roseau Bay jetty through a half-mile pipe. Rum is made on three pot stills and a continuous still, then blended and aged into styles like Chairman's Reserve.

Why we carry them

Chairman's Reserve is a versatile rum that works in a daiquiri or on its own. It is an easy way to explore Caribbean rum beyond the big names.

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