Hamilton 151 Demerara Overproof Rum 750ml

When tiki bartenders across the country woke up one day to find Lemon Hart 151 — for decades the gold-standard high-proof Demerara rum behind classics like the Zombie and Navy Grog — suddenly nearly impossible to source, Ed Hamilton stepped in to fill the gap. Founder of the Ministry of Rum and a genuine authority on Caribbean rum, Hamilton launched his own Demerara range in 2015, pairing this 151-proof overproof bottling alongside the milder Hamilton 86. There's a genuinely funny quirk behind the labeling, too: Hamilton wasn't permitted to use the term "Demerara rum" directly, so instead the label reads "Demerara river" — a clever workaround that still points squarely at the rum's true origin.

That origin is Guyana's Diamond Distillers (Demerara Distillers Limited), widely considered the source of the world's greatest Demerara rum, home to a genuinely unique collection of historic stills, including the legendary wooden pot stills at Versailles and Port Mourant. Hamilton 151 blends rum from both pot and column stills, aged up to five years in ex-bourbon casks, purchased in bulk at 77% ABV and reduced only slightly to its final bottling strength of 75.5% ABV — genuinely serious proof, built specifically to hold its own in tiki cocktails that call for real Demerara backbone.

The Rum Barrel Blog's independent review found "on the nose it smells like you would expect from a Guyanese rum — caramel, ground coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice, some burnt paper, old leather and ripe pineapples," describing the overall character as "dark with bitter sweet" intensity. Bin Ends' extended tasting found "molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, coffee, nutmeg, cloves, prunes, raisins, licorice, and subtle hints of tropical fruits like banana and pineapple" on the nose, developing into "dark chocolate, brown sugar, treacle, coffee, cocoa, toasted nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, grapefruit zest, marzipan, saline notes, and a touch of herbal undertone," closing "long and warming with lingering notes of caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruits, sweet smokiness, tobacco, and a hint of oak tannin." Astor Wines' own tasting found "Raisin Bran, vanilla custard, sweet plantains, Oloroso Sherry, and coconut." One Difford's Guide community reviewer, comparing it directly against the original, put it simply: "superior to the current bottle of Lemon Hart, IMO." This is genuinely serious, character-driven overproof Demerara rum, purpose-built for the tiki bottles that demand it — Zombie, Jet Pilot, Cobra's Fang, or any classic recipe calling for that signature 151-proof punch.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Hamilton 151 Demerara Overproof Rum was created in 2015 by Ed Hamilton, founder of the Ministry of Rum, specifically to give bartenders and rum enthusiasts a genuine, high-quality successor to Lemon Hart 151 as that legendary bottling became increasingly difficult to source. The rum is distilled at Diamond Distillers (Demerara Distillers Limited) in Guyana, home to some of the world's most storied and historically significant stills, including the wooden pot stills at Versailles and Port Mourant.

The finished rum blends distillate from both pot and column stills, aged up to five years in ex-bourbon casks, then purchased in bulk at 77% ABV before being reduced slightly to its final bottling strength for release. Non-chill filtered. Bottled at 75.5% ABV / 151 proof.

Critics Reviews

No formal numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time.

The Rum Barrel Blog (extended independent review):
"On the nose it smells like you would expect from a Guyanese rum. Caramel, ground coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice. Some burnt paper, old leather and ripe pineapples. It does feel dark with bitter sweet [intensity]."

Difford's Guide community (Tim Ihde):
"Superior to the current bottle of Lemon Hart IMO."

Bin Ends (extended tasting note):
"Aroma: Molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, coffee, nutmeg, cloves, prunes, raisins, licorice, and subtle hints of tropical fruits like banana and pineapple. Taste: Intense molasses and caramel; dark chocolate, brown sugar, treacle, coffee, cocoa, toasted nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, grapefruit zest, marzipan, saline notes, and a touch of herbal undertone. Finish: Long and warming, lingering notes of caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruits, sweet smokiness, tobacco, and a hint of oak tannin."

OnlyDrams (extended tasting note):
"Nose: Inviting aromas of caramel, ground coffee, dark chocolate, and licorice, complemented by hints of burnt paper, old leather, and ripe pineapple. Palate: Warming and full-bodied, with layers of caramel, coffee, black tea, and licorice. Notes of overripe banana, pears, pineapple, and a touch of funky character unfold, supported by hints of menthol, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, and nuts. Finish: Long and lingering, with dominant notes of licorice and ground coffee, leaving a memorable and satisfying finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Rich caramel, ground coffee, dark chocolate, and licorice lead, joined by molasses, maple syrup, and brown sugar, alongside burnt paper, old leather, and ripe pineapple.

Palate
Warming and full-bodied, with intense molasses and caramel carrying the entry, joined by treacle, cocoa, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Overripe banana, pear, and pineapple add tropical funk, alongside grapefruit zest, marzipan, and black pepper.

Finish
Long and warming, closing with lingering caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruit, and licorice, alongside sweet smokiness, tobacco, and oak tannin — genuinely serious, high-proof intensity.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Suggestions

Zombie
A staple ingredient in this classic tiki cocktail, providing genuine 151-proof depth.

Jet Pilot or Cobra's Fang — both classic tiki recipes built specifically around overproof Demerara rum.

Flambéed Desserts — genuinely useful for tableside flambé given its high proof.