Hamilton 86 Demerara

Smoky molasses flavor up front and great for mixing.

Real rum here folks. Tons of body. Beautiful in its purity. Nose of molasses and licorice. Entrance of molasses and dark fruit with banana notes. Almost a Demerara funk. Wood, smoke and plenty of body. Can’t wait to try this in a Tiki drink. Short finish. Small bite. Decent sipper. Very respectable and has earned a permanent place in my liquor cabinet.

This was a nice surprise. I am a huge fan of Guyanese rum and this didn’t disappoint!

This has the caramel notes that you'd expect to find in a demerara. I still have a preference for another demerara rums, but you can't go wrong with this one for all mixing and tiki needs.

A solid Demerara. Good for a tiki drink. Not my favorite style for sipping.

Compared to El Dorado 5 I can't tell you which is better. They both work as a budget friendly Demerara mixer.. It seems I can usually nab Hamilton 86 cheaper than ED5, so that's what I usually grab when I can find it.

This is one of my favorite rums. I agree with Beachbum Berry's recommendation of this one. It is a bit sweet in flavour, but not too sweet. I have had this neat, on ice, and mixed. Never disappoints. I do use this in a nightcap with 151 Demerara and a little Creole Shrub. I always have a bottle of this in my cabinet.

Subtle, a perfect example of the style, and has no equal for cocktails.

Beachbum Barry is right (again).

Nose: Frosted flakes, wet wood, tangy fruits, and a hint of pot still funk

Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, a bit smoky (not like peat smoke in a scotch, this is more like barrel-char smoke). Sweetness of dried fruits at first then goes spicy, reminds me of grilling peaches over an open fire

Finish: Falls a little flat here, not much evolution to the finish and quite short. This is the only reason I’m not giving it a 9/10

Appearance is deep amber. Aroma: Esters, molasses, caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar dominate with some warm spicy notes - nice! Taste: Sweetness, probably from esters, with spices, caramel, vanilla, and molasses. Reminiscent of a rum raisin cookie. Finish is scorched caramel. Mouthfeel: Medium-full, with light burn.
Okay for sipping, especially with a few drops of water.
Other: Synthetic T cork; it is a bit tight