Ministry of Rum Beachbums Berry's Navy Grog (Hamilton) Rum 750ml

Ministry of Rum is the import label of Ed Hamilton, a longtime rum authority who has spent decades sourcing and bottling expressions from distilleries across the Caribbean. For this release, Hamilton teamed up with tiki historian Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, who had already collaborated with him on a well regarded Zombie blend. The two set out to solve a real bartending problem: Don the Beachcomber's 1940s Navy Grog recipe called for three separate pours of Jamaican, Puerto Rican, and Demerara rum, a combination that slowed down service and relied on styles that are difficult to find today.

After extensive research into the original recipe and trial and error blending, Hamilton and Berry settled on a combination of rums sourced from Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic, bottled together as a single easy pour. The blend is concentrated at Navy Strength, 114 proof, which means less dilution and more flavor per ounce, along with better value since less rum is needed per cocktail.

The nose brings warm molasses and brown sugar alongside high ester funk, ripe banana, and a hint of anise. On the palate, heavy caramel gives way to rich molasses, mango, and orange zest, backed by a vegetal, mineral edge that deepens the profile. The finish brings charred oak into balance with the fruit. It was built for the Navy Grog but performs well in other multi-rum tiki cocktails, or simply poured over ice.