Ministry of Rum Demerara River (Hamilton) Rum 750ml

Ministry of Rum Demerara River comes from Ed Hamilton, known throughout the rum world as the "Minister of Rum." Hamilton built his expertise over decades of sailing the Caribbean, working as a writer, importer, and outspoken advocate for rum, and he runs the Ministry of Rum, one of the most respected independent resources in the category. Demerara River represents his selection from Guyana's storied Demerara Distillers Limited, chosen to showcase the region's distinctive style without relying on additives.

This rum blends both pot and column still distillates sourced directly from Demerara Distillers, including spirit from at least one of Guyana's legendary wooden pot stills, either the Versailles or the Port Mourant. The blend ages up to five years in ex-Bourbon casks before bottling at 43 percent alcohol by volume, with no added sugar or sweeteners, letting the raw character of the Demerara rums come through unmasked.

In the glass, it shows dark walnut with golden amber highlights. The nose opens with dark cacao and toffee, while the palate delivers sweet caramel, black cherry, red apple, and plum, balanced against bitter treacle, tobacco, cinnamon, and allspice. Charred oak and cacao linger into a long, layered finish.