Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum

Appearance: Deep brown, likely heavily colored like all black rums (I'd hesitate to try anything this dark from a barrel!). Thin body. Minimal legs. Nose: I'd be surprised if this was unusually high-ester, but it's certainly not low-ester, as its origin is evident upon first sniff, filling the nose with tropical vegetation, a distinct sour note, and a subtle background of gently sulfured molasses. Bright acidic fruits lead the way - papaya; passion fruit - intertwined with floral notes, yet transformed and deepened by molasses and ripe banana peel. No ethanol burn, but it's still intense. Opening: Sweet and rich syrup, subtle molasses Mid-palate: Tart tropical fruits from the nose intensify then recede, giving way to increasing oak astringency with a hint of Juicy Fruit gum. Finish: A brief sensation on the swallow; a lingering dryness and the molasses returns for an extended finish. Empty glass: Prunes are prominent all day; it smells like port and it's delightful. Overall very satisfying. Without tasting comparable options (Coruba? Others?), I can't accurately assess its value. It's significantly more refined and complex than Myers's. While Gosling's is half the price, I'd still choose it for Dark & Stormys, but this rum offers much more character, taking a leading role instead of a supporting one like Gosling's, and it was a delightful complement to the creamy, sweet spices in coquitos over the holidays.

Nose: Abundant molasses, very ripe banana, guava, and a whisper of spice. Taste: Intense molasses sweetness transitions into lemon zest and sweet prunes. It then fades into an oaky finish with black pepper. The spicy aspect of the finish is brief, but a deeper molasses flavor lingers with some of the more intricate funky esters. There's also a faint trace of dry-cut grass. I do detect a somewhat pronounced chemical note on the finish, similar to swimming pool chlorine. Incredible value for $25. It's a shame about the potential over-coloring, as I suspect the chemical note stems from caramel coloring, and its absence would improve the flavor. Nevertheless, it remains remarkably intriguing. This drinks like a budget version of Hampden 8.

Neat. Deep Mahogany color. Aroma is molasses, black bananas, stewed fruit, grass, funk, rubber, char, a hint of citrus. Taste is slightly sweet with molasses, lots of cooked fruits, some barrel spice, oak, char, vanilla, and grassy notes. Finishes quite dry with some spice, green herbs, smoke, and vanilla lingering. Drinkable neat but amazing at adding complexity to rum (especially Tiki) beverages

Nose: Extremely fruity and distinctive. Pineapple, custard, cinnamon, cloves Taste: Echoes the nose, with more molasses and barrel-aged characteristics emerging. Interestingly, the distinctive fruity notes are more prominent in cocktails than when consumed neat. Not my top choice, but worth sampling if you enjoy Jamaican rum.

An excellent rum given its very affordable price. It's versatile but not outstanding in any single aspect. You'll detect high ester notes like nail polish and spoiled bananas, alongside more typical flavors such as spice, molasses, and butterscotch.

The only Black Pot Still rum mentioned in Martin Cate's "Smuggler's Cove" bar guide. Highly sippable, excellent value for a dark rum, with a strong distinctive smell but mixes very well for your tiki drink creations.