Hamilton 86 Demerara

Tasted at the King Kahuna in Longmont, CO on February 24th, 2024. A go to/must have for cocktails.

Nose: Burnt molasses with some smoke
Taste/Palate: Brown Sugar
Finish: Medium

Nice dark golden color. Definitely a sweet fruity taste. Bought it at a tasting by the FL rum society.

Good Demerara, plenty of smoky flavor. Goes great in drinks.

This one is nothing less than fantastic. I don't think I've rated anything above an 8, which maybe shows where I'm at in my rum journey, but this definitely sits happily with my favorites at the moment.

On the nose, deeply caramelized sugars, vanilla.

Palate is quite complex where you pick up a bit of the smoke, molasses, maybe even a nice chocolately coffee... And yet a hint of some funk that adds well desired complexity. Distinctly Hamilton, in my opinion.

Finish is very dry and pleasant, more vanilla, toasted bread, and maybe some black pepper.

After I finished my pour, I came back to smell the empty glass and it was pure brown sugar -- amazing. Love this rum. Maybe an 8.5. haven't had too many in the Demerara style to compare it to, but it's delicious.

This is my first Guyanese rum, and what a rum it is! Dark in taste and color, this stuff is packed with all sorts of rich flavors. Chocolate, caramel, molasses, raisins, leather, and tobacco are all present in abundance on both the nose and palate, with a bit of a lingering sweetness despite not having any added sugar. A little too much young rum burn to be a great sipper but it really shines in a cocktail, especially in combination with something Jamaican for contrast. Definitely a bottle worth keeping behind your bar! I know I'll be making good use of it soon!

Overly burnt caramel nose and taste, burns way too much for being 43%, needs more time in the barrel

The quintessential Demerara mixing rum is also a pretty good sipper. Side-by-side with El Dorado 8 (purportedly without dosage now in 2023 and sometime prior) and Hamilton 86 is an easy winner. All of the typical Demerara notes are there, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, a bit of smokiness, leather, caramel, a sort of peppery spicy bite to it. If you are looking for a budget Demerara rum for cocktails, especially tiki drinks, this is the one to have for sure.

Overall: 7.8 - great mixer, also very sippable, has a complexity to it that some of its contemporaries lack.

Nice sipper with a lot of attitude. Several strong flavors such as smokiness, light sweetness, and some fruitiness. Nice caramel coloring with a smooth finish. Very surprised and very glad I got to try this.

Bottle purchased in Wichita. Pours auburn color. Delightful aroma of caramel and hazelnut. Flavor is a bit disappointing- woody, spicy and vet bitter. I must admit that it makes a great Pearl Diver though.

This rum is one of my favorites. It is my go-to for a rum and coke, the burnt toffee/caramel really work in that capacity for my palate. This isn't really a rum that I would relish sipping but making cocktails? Good lord, give me strength. I would give this rum a 10 if Plantation OFTD and Hamilton 151 didn't exist as this rum has lost it's priority in my liquor cabinet as my floater of choice. Major flavor bomb, my favorite budget demerara rum on the market(that I've tried mind).
My tasting notes: Nose is burnt toffee, palate is burnt toffee/caramel, molasses, hint of vanilla, finish is short.

Cork Review: 6.5/10 could be a lot more sonically satisfying, BUT! It does this thing where it kind of *clicks* into place right when you're done putting the cork back in. Reminds me of a Lustau sherry bottle for those familiar.