Hamilton Demerara 86 Proof Rum

Hamilton Demerara 86 Proof Rum. Demerara Distillers Limited, Diamond Distillery, Guyana — curated by Ed Hamilton, a full-flavored blend of aged pot still and continuous column still rums from the same distillery behind El Dorado, bottled at 86 proof with no added sugar or additives.

Demerara Distillers Limited operates Diamond Distillery on the east bank of the Demerara River in Guyana — the last remaining rum distillery in the country, and home to some of the oldest operating distilling equipment in the world. It is also the distillery behind El Dorado rum and the producer of Lemon Hart. Ed Hamilton — the Minister of Rum — sources this expression directly from DDL, importing it at 154 proof and reducing it at Five & 20 Spirits in Westfield, NY to 86 proof using filtered water. No sugar, no additives.

The 86 Proof is the everyday sipping and mixing companion to the Hamilton Demerara 151 — both are drawn from the same base blend of aged pot and column still rums, which include distillate from DDL's historic wooden stills. The result is an accessible, uncompromised introduction to genuine Demerara character: the smoky tobacco, dark fruit, burnt cane, and treacle notes that define this uniquely Guyanese style of rum at a proof level designed for both neat sipping and cocktail use.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Molasses and burnt caramel lead with dark cacao, toffee, tobacco, raisins, and vanilla. Hints of leather, charred oak, cinnamon, and a light smokiness characteristic of the DDL wooden stills.
• Palate: Rich and full-bodied. Caramel, black cherry, red apple, and dark stone fruit balanced by bitter treacle, tobacco leaf, cinnamon, and allspice. Dark chocolate and smoky wood weave through. The DDL molasses — among the highest sugar content of any in the Caribbean at 65% dissolved sugar — gives the base an unusual depth.
• Finish: Long and dry with oak tannins, lingering toffee, dark cocoa, tobacco, and a faint hint of sea air. Earthy and satisfying.

Specs

• Distillery: Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Diamond Distillery, Guyana
• Curator: Ed Hamilton, Ministry of Rum
• Style: Demerara Rum (blended pot + continuous column stills)
• Aging: Up to 5 years
• No added sugar, no additives.
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse our full selection of rum at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Hamilton Demerara 86 taste like? Molasses, burnt caramel, dark cacao, and tobacco on the nose. Rich and full-bodied on the palate with caramel, dark stone fruit, treacle, tobacco leaf, and dark chocolate. Long, dry finish with oak, toffee, and cocoa.
• Is Hamilton Demerara 86 from the same distillery as El Dorado? Yes — both are produced by Demerara Distillers Limited at Diamond Distillery on the banks of the Demerara River in Guyana. Hamilton sources the same base rum but bottles it without El Dorado's premium processing, caramel additions, or sweeteners — giving a more raw, honest view of what DDL Demerara actually tastes like from the barrel.
• What is the difference between the 86 Proof and the 151? Both are drawn from the same base DDL blend of aged pot and column still rums. The 86 Proof is designed for sipping and everyday cocktail use; the 151 is for bold tiki applications like the Zombie or 151 Swizzle where overproof rum is a traditional requirement.
• Why does Demerara rum taste smoky? The smoky character comes from DDL's historic wooden stills — particularly the Port Mourant double wooden pot still from 1732 and the Enmore greenheart wood Coffey still from 1880. Distillate from wooden stills picks up distinctive smoky, earthy, and tobacco-like congeners that metal stills cannot replicate.
• Is Hamilton Demerara 86 good for cocktails? Excellent — it is specifically designed for tiki and classic cocktails calling for Demerara rum. It substitutes well for Lemon Hart 151 in lower-proof applications and is ideal in a Mai Tai, Planter's Punch, or any classic that specifies Demerara rum.