Chairman’s Rum Julep – Summer Southern (Caribbean) Comfort Cocktail
Summer and julep cocktails have gone hand in hand throughout the southern United States for centuries. Add in a soundtrack suffused with country and western hits and you have a recipe for fun across all points south of the Mason-Dixon line. Surprisingly, those points even include one special corner of the Caribbean. The place: Saint Lucia, home to the Chairman’s Rum Julep.
The Country & Western Capital of the Caribbean
Chesney may have put Saint John on the C&W map in recent years. Kenny Rogers has been beloved in Jamaica for years.
Saint Lucia, though, is unquestionably the capital of country and western music in the Caribbean.
Turn on the radio there and hop around the dial. No doubt, you’ll happen upon a heaping helping of Nashville classics, most dating from to the 1950s to the 1970s. (St. Lucians apparently aren’t huge fans of today’s country, sorry Chesney.)
Bars and restaurants across the island are big on classic country as well. Karaoke competitions seeking the best country crooners are common, as are line dances, and live performances featuring local Saint Lucian singing cowboys.
I mean, just check out this video from St. Lucia’s own Shervon Sealy…
Yeah, surprisingly, country is king in Saint Lucia.
We’ll get into the how’s and why’s of this, the Caribbean’s most uncommon of musical traditions in a future post. For now, let’s toast to it with a southern cocktail worthy of St. Lucia’s country and western charms – the Chairman’s Rum Julep.
Caribbean Country & Western Rum
- 6-8 Mint Leaves
- 1/4 oz sugarcane or simple syrup
- 2 oz Chairman’s Reserve Rum
As we’ve noted previously, Chairman’s Reserve is the rum of choice among the young and hip in Saint Lucia. I can’t say for sure, but judging from the video above, I’m guessing that we can count Cowboy Sealy among them.
The Chairman’s Rum Julep is, in essence, a rum version of the traditional mint julep. Just switch out the Bourbon with the #1 rum in the Caribbean’s #1 country and western destination and you have it. Here’s how to mix one up…
Chairman’s Rum Julep Recipe
Lightly muddle mint and syrup in the bottom of your julep cup or rocks glass. Add rum and a handful of crushed ice. Lightly stir to chill. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a couple sprigs of mint.
How To Order Chairman’s Reserve Online
Our amazing friends at SPIRIBAM are the exclusive USA importers for Chairman’s Reserve. For the very best deals on the full line of Chairman’s Reserve rums, visit SPIRIBAM online and be sure to enter promo code “UCRHUM” at checkout to save 10% off your order.
Cheers, pardner!