Overview
Brand: Hamilton
Origin: Diamond Distillery, Diamond, Guyana (picked by Florida Rum Society)
Still: Pot
Age: 8 years, 10 months
Finish: ex-Bourbon & ex-Whiskey
ABV: 67.9%
We follow up Hamilton's single cask Port Mourant with another entry in the Single Cask Strength Collection, this time from a different wooden pot still.
Hamilton Single Cask Strength Collection Guyana Versailles was produced by the Versailles wooden single pot still, which was originally made with the same greenheart wood that the Port Mourant still is made out of. The molasses-based rum was distilled in 2012, and aged at origin in ex-bourbon and ex-whiskey casks for at least a month; in 2013 it was shipped to the UK for continued maturation. After a total of 8 years and 10 months of aging, it was shipped to the US and bottled at a whopping 67.9% ABV.
Like the previous Port Mourant single cask, this was chosen by the Florida Rum Society as a private selection.
Appearance
Champagne, low viscosity
Nose
Milk chocolate, butterscotch, ethanol, molasses, golden raisins, ripened banana, vanilla, Green Anjou pear
Palate
Ripe banana, pineapple core, milk chocolate, turbinado sugar, Green Anjou pear, ethanol, vanilla wafer, crisp Golden Delicious apple
Finish
Long, warm, slightly bitter; bright pear, butterscotch, high cocoa milk chocolate, crisp green apple, over-toasted almonds
Rating: 7/10
Summary
This Versailles single cask is a great example of another type of still that DDL has in their aresenal. It brings a bit more heat and confection notes than fruit notes, although those are present.
The nose gives off a heap of alcohol right away, but moving past that is a mix of milk chocolate, butterscotch, and molasses, with some fruits coming through in bits and pieces.
Banana, the core of a pineapple, and Green Anjou pear (the common green pear found in the US) brings those fruity notes onto the palate, bookended by vanilla and apple notes. A long and warming finish amplifies the pear, apple, and chocolate notes, with some over-toasted almonds bringing a slight bitter quality to the experience.
Compared to the PM still, Versailles seems to be a bit sharp and unforgiving, but it's still enjoyable and quintessentially Guyana.