Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum

Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum shines in classic tiki cocktails.

Nose: Molasses, burnt sugar, and oak dominate. Hints of vanilla, dark chocolate, and tropical fruit emerge. A subtle smokiness lingers in the background.

Palate: Rich and full-bodied. Dark brown sugar and caramel lead, followed by toasted nuts and baking spices. Notes of coffee, leather, and dried fruits add complexity. The 86-proof strength provides a pleasant warmth without overwhelming heat.

Finish: Long and slightly dry. Oak tannins balance the sweetness. Lingering flavors of toffee, dark cocoa, and a touch of tobacco. A subtle saltiness reminiscent of sea air appears at the very end.

The molasses used at Demerara Distillers Ltd comes from Guyana and contained 65% dissolved sugar, one of the highest sugar contents of any molasses found in the Caribbean. The high sugar content is attributed to the age of the Guyanese sugar mill. Demerara Distillers Ltd. utilizes a variety of column and pot stills the company acquired through acquisitions over the past 300 years. Among the unique stills are a wooden pot and a wooden column still that distill the heavier rums while copper and stainless column stills are used to make lighter rums. Imported as bulk rum in 1000 liter IBC tanks, the 77% ABV spirit was diluted with filtered water to 43% ABV. Prior to bottling, this blend was filtered with a five micron filter to remove charcoal that may be suspended in the liquid and that might prevent a malfunction in the bottling machine. A small amount of caramel coloring was added. Bottles are filled with a six bottle gravity feed filler.

• Hamilton 86 is a dilution of the same rum used to produce Hamilton 151 Overproof.