Overview
Brand: Hamilton
Origin: Diamond Distillery, Diamond, Guyana; Worthy Park, Lluidas Vale, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: NAS
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 59%
To start our trek through Hamilton Week, we've got one of Hamilton's (relatively) newer blends that burst onto the scene at a time when many people– myself included– were getting into home bartending.
Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, tiki icon and proprietor of New Orleans' Latitude 29, managed to find the long-lost recipe for Donn Beach's original Zombie cocktail in 2005. During a visit by Ed Hamilton to Latitude 29 in 2019, Ed and Jeff discussed reviving the tiki classic, and the two decided to collaborate on a rum blend that would make the daunting drink much easier to craft.
Hamilton Beachbum Berry's Zombie Blend is indeed a blend of multiple rums from different origins. Going off the original Zombie recipe, I'm expecting that the Jamaican component would be a pot still rum from Worthy Park (where all of Ed's Jamaican rums come from), and the high-proof Guyana component being a multi-still blend from Demerara Distillers, Ltd. I am not aware of any Puerto Rican rum that is commonly found in bulk markets, but the equivalent component could be a lighter-bodied column still rum from Trinidad or perhaps even a similar rum from the Dominican Republic.
Phew! Just like the recipe for a Zombie, that was a lot to get through. Without further delay, let's give this a try.
Appearance
Orange, low viscosity
Nose
Baked banana, brown sugar, grilled pineapple, molasses, caramel
Palate
Brown sugar, vanilla, baked banana, caramel, molasses, dates, hint of nutmeg, star anise
Finish
Medium-long, dark, bitter; prunes, molasses, graham cracker, star anise
Rating: 6/10
Summary
Hamilton's core range of rums are formulated for mixing cocktails, which I'd say is this blend's strong suit. Not that this is bad sipped on its own, but that is certainly not its strongsuit.
The nose mixes elements commonly found in both Jamaican and Demerara rums. This is echoed by the palate with banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and molasses notes. There's an underlying element that seems like it could be a lighter column still rum (like what would come from Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic). The finish is mostly molasses/prunes with some graham cracker flavors lingering; it's slightly bitter and not entirely composed.
I really like this blend when used for its intended purpose: a blend of rums best suited for crafting Zombies and Jet Pilots, two of my favorite drinks in tiki canon. This is a solid blend and a great start to Hamilton Week.