This is very nice. On the nose there is a sort of burnt brown sugar and a smoky, leathery dimension. The taste is similar, with a combination of heavy molasses and a dark, charred flavor, maybe even a bit of coffee. Then again, I don't like coffee, but I like this. The sweetness pops up but the finish is mostly the char. It's kind of like you had a cinnamon roll or molasses cookie or something that got overbaked and turned into a nugget of burnt-to-a-crisp brown sugar. Only, you know, tastier than that makes it sound. This isn't super complex but it's quite good. It's pretty much all about that enticing combination of char and brown sugar --- and a fine combination it is! The brown sugar has something in common with Barbados rums, but that smoky char makes it more bracing. It's gritty enough that you feel kind of hardcore drinking it, but not so nasty that you have to actually be hardcore to drink it. The price is right at under $25. I'll probably buy this again at some point.
About this bottle
The South American country of Guyana, with its close proximity to the Caribbean, is known for its distinctive, smoky rums made from Demerara sugar. While once home to many distilleries, consolidation has brought all the country’s rum making capacity under Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which uses a number of historical stills, including wooden pot and column stills. While there’s no shortage of examples of DDL product on the market, including El Dorado and many multi-island blends, rum aficionado Ed Hamilton found it worthwhile to import two impeccably sourced and documented custom blends, aged up to five years with no post-distillation sugar added. This rum is the same rum as the Hamilton Demerara Overproof, but diluted down a more sippable 86 proof, with a bit of spirit caramel added for color.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 5 parsed reviews.
This was my second Demerara rum after El Dorado 15. By comparison, this one is significantly less sweet and complex, but perhaps a bit more on the funky and smoky side. Great in a Dark & Stormy, so I’m hopeful it will work well in other cocktails too. Much easier to sip than expected, although not how I’d typically reach for it. Looking to explore this one a bit more...
Lighter than expected color in glass for a black blended rum. Over-ripe banana on the nose followed by sweet fruit and smoky molasses. Nice medium finish and overall tasty rum!
Dark molasses with hints of leather. Smooth enough for sipping, but not particularly exciting
I somehow paid $9 for this rum. Turned out to be an excellent bang for the dollar.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
