Hamilton Overproof 151 Rum

Rating: 14/23 Nose: Strong tannins combine with burnt molasses and strips of lemon peel (including the pith). Ethanol is prominent, but not in aroma. Quite unusual. Palate: Unsurprisingly, this burns. It's extremely high proof. Moving past that, there's considerable richness and funk. The bitter alcohol taste blends well with the hogo funkiness, creating a sort of tannic barrel sensation mixed with molasses. The sweetness is well-balanced. There's also some lemon present alongside the burn. It's a bit harsh, but primarily the burn is the dominant sensation. Finish: A lingering burn, tannic barrel notes, hints of molasses, and traces of lemon. - Conclusion - This is difficult to sip neat, but it's quite delicious. Its bold, funky character makes it an excellent mixer, so it effectively fills an important role. However, I don't rate spirits (other than liqueurs) based on their suitability as mixers. Therefore, I estimate its neat rating to be around a 14, though it could be considered a 13. It offers tremendous value as a mixer and can be used to create some fantastic cocktails! Fundamentally, this is a mixer. It excels at that. Neat, it presents a challenge. I'll award it that 14, but I'm still contemplating whether it should be a 13 neat.

I conducted a three-way comparison last night with Lemonhart 151 (current batch), Hamilton 151, and Plantation OFTD, sipping each neat from a Glencairn glass. The bottom line is, you can't go wrong with any of the three. On the nose, OFTD initially presented traditional Demerara aromas, but less intensely than the other two. Lemonhart immediately offered a strong hit of espresso and flan. Returning to the OFTD after some time revealed Vietnamese coffee, with light roast, milk, sugar, and condensed milk notes. Hamilton was primarily Demerara and brown sugar with deep caramel, but lacked any coffee notes. I could have spent all night just smelling these. In terms of taste, Lemonhart delivered delicious, rich, creamy, dark, sweet notes with premium espresso nuances. Hamilton was less intense, focusing more on burnt dark sugar, caramel, some dark fruit, and pronounced molasses. OFTD is comparable to the Hamilton but fruitier, with a hint of coffee and some barrel bitterness that distinguishes it. Not that it's crucial, but I favored the Lemonhart 151 the most.

An absolutely breathtaking, vibrant red appearance. The color genuinely surprised me. On the nose, rich bananas foster and custard. I let this sit in my glass for approximately 2 minutes before taking a taste. NEAT: The flavor perfectly matches the aroma. Incredibly rich, syrupy with floral hints, cinnamon raisin bread, brown sugar, and deep molasses. The "Demerara" character is undeniable. Naturally, the intensity and burn are present, noticeably numbing the tongue and creating a tingle as it's swallowed, but anyone who appreciates high-proof spirits will likely enjoy this sensation. WITH WATER: Tasting again with about 25% water added. The aroma is sweeter now, akin to pancakes with syrup (not maple) and butter. The flavor is also more buttery, but actually drier, with a more pronounced barrel influence. Faint traces of cocoa and char are present.

Consumed neat, the aroma presents notes of toasted sugar, marshmallows sizzling over a bonfire, ignited bananas, and undertones of cocoa. It has a rich, smooth texture, with minimal alcohol sting for its proof. The taste echoes the aroma with more toasted sugar and marshmallows, seared bananas, vanilla, powdered sugar, dark fruits, chocolate-covered coffee beans, and charred oak. A touch of water enhances the vanilla, coffee, and fruit notes, particularly emphasizing the coffee on the nose. The finish is lengthy and intense, a bit too sweet for my preference. I would favor a drier, oakier finish to balance the sweetness of the palate, but this is deceptively easy to drink.

A very strong nose of molasses and burnt sugar, with notes of overripe tropical fruit. Adding a few drops of water reveals a perfect brown sugar with a hint of baking spices. Upon tasting, there's an immediate warmth from the high ABV, followed by buttery salted caramel, brown sugar, and molasses. The flavor lingers moderately to long, with brown sugar and molasses fading to reveal pineapple at times, along with some spice. Later in the glass, the aromas include molasses and a slight banana mixed with the fruity, overripe pineapple. A wonderfully slow sipper.

The nose is rich with dark molasses, and you wouldn't guess its high proof. The palate also features that same molasses, which is both bitter and sweet, followed by considerable heat. The finish has baking spices that are intensely hot. I believe this surpasses the (new) Lemon Hart.