Hamilton 86 Demerara

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

I had tasted this before and have been using it as a dark rum mixer for a while. I did a pretty decent rum tasting today for my wife and I and I was surprised by just how much oak this has in it. We tasted it alongside Pampero Aniversario and Blackwell Jamaican dark rum and while it was well received the amount of oak flavor present was more than expected. The nose has nice notes of alcohol, caramel, smoke, oak and a hint of spice and tropical fruit. The taste is slightly sweet, again a hints of dark fruit, cherries and spice, but very strong oak flavor. I will still use this as a dark rum mixer but I am now more aware of the potential for that oak flavor to pop up in some more delicate recipes. I can definitely see how this is similar to the basis for some of the El Dorado expressions as well, and I prefer this iteration without the added sugar. Not one I would entertain as a sipper though.

Love the tobacco, chocolate, and cherry notes that make this bottle great. It’s a great sipper, and great for the price.

I'm a big fan of demerara heavy rums. I also prefer it as a simple compared to standard white sugar in most drinks. As such, I'm a big fan of this rum.