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: 45%

It's not everyday that you see a rum society have their name affixed to a rum product, outside of single cask selections. However, the Floriday Rum Society is practically in a category of its own.

The FRS are perhaps the country's largest rum group, and have been prolific in their selection of single casks throughout the past 5 years. Aside from these private selections, the group worked with Ed Hamilton to create a unique blend to their liking.

Hamilton Florida Rum Society Blend is a mix of 35% pot still rum from Jamaica's Worthy Park distillery, and 65% Guyanese rums from Demerara Distillers, Ltd, with no indication as far as the still(s) used, nor aging for the blend as a whole. After two full days of blending, the rum is bottled at 45% ABV over five days.

Appearance

Dark orange, low viscosity

Nose

Vanilla extract, brown sugar, hint of fresh banana, stale cookie dough, prunes

Palate

Overripe pineapple, fresh banana, molasses, prunes, brown sugar

Finish

Medium length, warm, dark; prunes, peach pit, brown sugar, molasses

Rating: 6/10

Summary

Like the Zombie blend, this is a decent rum sipped on its own; unlike that blend, this is a little more tame and straightforward.

The nose is subdued a bit, yielded mostly "dark" notes of molasses, brown sugar, prunes, and vanilla extract. The palate and finish share similar flavors, with overripe pineapple and fresh banana coming through on the front palate, while prunes, brown sugar, and peach pit follow through to the finale.

I've enjoyed this blend as an easy base for a Mai Tai. While it's perhaps not the most complext blend out there, it's very enjoyable, and quite a flex for the Florida Rum Society.

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Further Reading