After the abysmal failure that was Bumbu rum a few weeks past we were honestly a bit scared to try another rum so soon, and when the aroma was more on the sweeter side it sent our head spinning. Thankfully Blue Chair is not cut from the same cloth, but is also a bit of a weird breed given it’s via Kenny Chesney.
This is suspiciously in the season for us as this rum works wonders in hot toddies or even with cider, but – it’s ostensibly a beach rum? We’ll take odd over cloyingly diabetic though, and while this is unlikely to solve world hunger, win hearts and minds, or get a perfect score from us – it’s not gained our anger.
What they Say: “I’m happiest when my soul is still, down in the islands with nowhere to go and nowhere to be. That’s where I met one of the world’s great master blenders to capture that spirit and bottle it up. Drop anchor, swim ashore, and let time fly. – Kenny Chesney”
Taste: 5.5 – Yes, there is sugar there, but it’s not overriding everything or sickly to the taste. It’s overall fairly nice with a hint of spice.
Aftertaste: 6.0 – That nutmeg cinnamon-like flavor takes over though from the sweetness. While nice, it isn’t terribly complex, it’s really just those 2 and not much else going on.
Burn/Smooth: 7.5 – There is a sort of odd long lingering sort of burn, but overall it goes down fairly nice.
Aroma: 6.0 – There’s a hint of caramel-like bread creation with nutmeg, but overall it’s mostly just a slightly sweet (worryingly) spiced rum. It is nice though, very fall-like.
Honesty: 6.0 – It’d be hard for us to find fault in Kenny Chesney or his desire for a good beach rum. The issue we have is whether this is a beach rum? This really feels more like a hot toddy sort of rum, a good mixer to a fall or Christmas cocktail. It’s not something you’re mixing with citrus. Overall it sort of washes out.
Mixability: 6.25
W/ Rocks: 6.0 – That just makes it more chilled, but the flavor is pretty much the same.
Rum and Coke: 6.5 – It makes a nice sort of spiced cola drink – which we can’t fault, but this truly is meant for something else.
Editor’s Note: We tried this with some apple cider and damn that’s good.
Value: 6.0 – It’s not wildly expensive, and while yes no part of it is stupendous unless you are making some craft cocktail and find out that a Kenny Chesney rum is the perfect base – there is not something inherently wrong with it.
Google Shop Average: $16
Website: https://bluechairbayrum.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 5.0
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Metric Score: 43.25/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.18 |+| Reviewer Average: 5.0
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Final Thoughts: It’s not a complex drink, but it’s spiced nice and when you need a rum like this for whatever reason while it might be odd to find it here – you will find it. We do wish the flavor on rocks had a nice fundamental change here, but overall – it’s fine.
