I love hearing the stories behind a product, music, or business. It makes the connection between you and them, much more real. When you connect with one of these stories… it sticks with you. That is how I feel about Kenny Chesney’s music. His songs really speak to me and I am sure you do as well. That is why when I found Blue Chair Bay rum, I was hooked.
Each bottle is Key West. The flavors, the smell, and the tastes all remind me of Key West. Each sip transports me back to the island and lets me relive great memories.
The Rums
The rums are not your run-of-the-mill kinds. The Key Lime Rum Cream is smooth and very drinkable. Actually, all of the rums, no matter the flavors are drinkable on their own. You can choose from many flavors including coconut, spiced coconut, and banana. The white and gold are wonderful as well.
The Recipes
So, how do I enjoy these rums? Here are three of my favorite recipes so far. Stay tuned, more to follow!
Banana Fizz
2 oz Banana Rum
1 oz pineapple juice
Club Soda
In a lowball glass filled with ice, add the rum and juice. Top with club soda
Barrel Roll
This one reminds me of the Root Beer shot at the Green Parrot.
2 oz vanilla rum
Root Beer
In a lowball glass filled with ice add the vanilla rum and top with root beer.
Coffee and Pie
This one is smooth and a great sipping drink.
1 oz key lime rum cream
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz club soda
In a lowball glass filled with ice add the ingredients.
The Rums
Blue Chair Bay rums are inspired by the island lifestyle. Each rum is made in the Caribbean by a company fully owned by Kenny Chesney. Working with one of the great master blenders, Mike Booth, he created a line of rums, well you simply will want to collect all of them.
Interesting fact… the company that owns Blue Chair Bay is called Fishbowl Spirits. I love how Kenny captures his songs and spirit in the company’s name and the rums.
As you know, I try to stay on the healthier side of the food world, and these rums are not too bad on the calorie or even the carb scale. Check out the numbers here.
The rums are aged up to 15 months in bourbon barrels and per Mike Booth, “literally on the beach” by one the Caribbean’s oldest distilleries. Aging more than that time may change the flavor of the rums. Make the rums lean more towards a whiskey taste.
They use natural ingredients to create a premium blend and some truly amazing flavors. The cream versions contain real cream. Such as:
- Spiced White
- Coconut
- Banana
- Coconut Spiced
- Vanilla
- Key Lime Rum Cream
- Banana Rum Cream
- Pineapple Rum cream
- Coconut Spiced Rum cream
- Mango Rum Cream – a fan-voted flavor
- Mocha Rum Cream
The Mater Blender
While researching more about Blue Chair Bay rum, I found an interview Mike Booth gave to “Got Rum?” in 2014. He has a very impressive career and when he joined Blue Chair Bay, he decided he wanted to focus on rums. He is known as one of the world’s great master blenders. He said, “I enjoyed the placed and the people where rums are made.” Well, don’t we all?
When asked about the rums, he had some interesting things to say.
The Classic White rum is the “ideal rum for preparing classic rum cocktails like Daiquiris and Mojitos. The rum was blended to be smooth.”
The Coconut rum “is delicious on the rocks or as an essential component of your favorite Caribbean cocktail”.
Coconut Spiced rum taste is a “natural Caribbean blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and black pepper.”
Of course, he ended the interview with this… “I like classic cocktails. My current favorite is a traditional Lime Daiquiri vintage 1950s Havana Cuba and Hemingway. Blue Chair Bay White was blended with that purpose in mind.” So, pick up a bottle of the Blue Chair Bay White, drop anchor, and try these classic cocktails.
Classic Cocktails
Classic Daiquiri
2.5 oz Blue Chair Bay White Rum
2 oz lime juice – fresh
1.5 oz Simple Syrup
Combine the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and pour into a glass for an on-the-rock version. Or add ingredients into a blender with ice to create a frozen version. Garnish with a fresh lime slice.
Hemingway Daiquiri
1.5 oz Blue Chair Bay White Rum
1 tsp maraschino liquer
.5 oz grapefruit juice
.5oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz simple syrup
Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake. Then pour it into a daiquiri or martini glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Pina Colada
2 oz Blue Chair Bay Pineapple Rum Cream
1 oz Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum
1 oz pineapple juice
1 cup ice
Add all the ingredients to a blender, and blend. Pour into a glass and garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry.
Mango Orange Julius
1.5 oz Blue Chair Bay Mango Rum Cream
1.5 oz Blue Chair Bay Vanilla Rum
1.5 oz orange juice
1.5 oz milk (skim or try vanilla almond)
Orange slices – garnish
Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice, shake and then pour into a glass.
Mango Daiquiri
For a tropical fusion of mango and coconut, try this one.
2 oz Blue Chair Bay Mango Rum Cream
1 oz Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum
1 oz mango puree or mango juice
ice
Blend all of the ingredients in a blender. Pour into a glass and garnish with a mango and pineapple slice.
The Story
As I mentioned, I love to hear stories. The why, the where, the how. These rums’ inspiration is from Kenny’s 2004 hit “Old Blue Chair”. The lyrics even appear on the bottles. “There’s a blue rocking chair, sitting in the sand…” I bet you sang that and the next verse, right?
He is quoted as saying “I wanted to create the rum I truly wanted to drink”. I think he succeeded. It’s the rum not only he wants to drink, but me and a lot of other people too.
In Kenny’s own words, here is the story about Blue Chair Bay rum. Let me know which one is your favorite.
sources – www.bluechairbayrum.com
As you can figure out by now, I am not only a fan but a lover of these rums. The best experience? Try one of these rums with someone and have Kenny’s music playing in the background. Yep… it will be that good. Even better? Enjoy the rum on a beach, at sunset, with someone. Let me know how it goes…
There’s a blue rocking chair sitting in the sand
Weathered by the storms and well-oiled hands
It sways back and forth with the help of the winds
Seems to always be there, like an old trusted friend
