Hamilton Pimento Dram Liqueur 750ml

Hamilton Pimento Dram was genuinely born out of frustration — Ed Hamilton, rum importer and Ministry of Rum authority, went searching across Jamaica for a great pimento dram worth exporting, and came up empty. Rather than give up, he took matters into his own hands at Five & 20 Spirits in New York, spending two and a half years getting the balance right using authentic Jamaican ingredients. Pimento dram itself is a genuine historical spirit — an article of commerce dating back to the 1850s, made by steeping allspice ("pimento" in Jamaican parlance) berries in rum, with entries documented as far back as the 1862 International Exhibition in London. The name is genuinely a bit of a misnomer worth knowing: despite the name, it's made from allspice berries, not the peppers most people associate with "pimento."

The base is real Worthy Park Estate pot still rum, distilled from fermented molasses at the historic Vale of Lluidas sugar mill in Jamaica. Fresh, whole Jamaican pimento berries are macerated directly into the rum for five to seven days, then coarse filtered, before the mixture is slowly diluted with filtered well water over several more days down to its final 30% ABV, finished with a touch of sugar. No color is added at any stage — the liqueur's light green hue comes entirely from the maceration itself.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Hamilton Pimento Dram Liqueur is produced by Hamilton Distillers, Inc., bottled at Five & 20 Spirits in Westfield, New York, using rum imported directly from Jamaica. The base is pot still rum distilled from fermented molasses at the Worthy Park Estate sugar mill, in the Vale of Lluidas, Jamaica.

Whole Jamaican pimento (allspice) berries are macerated into 85% Jamaican light rum for five to seven days, drawing out the spice's full flavor. The infusion is then coarse filtered before being diluted with filtered well water over several additional days, finishing with approximately 15% sugar added prior to bottling. No color is added. Bottled at 30% ABV, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

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

Curiada (extended tasting note):
"The rum base contributes a mild alcohol warmth and caramel notes. A slight peppery bite lingers underneath. Finish: Long and warming. The allspice gradually fades, leaving behind a pleasant tingle of baking spices. Subtle sweetness from the rum base persists, with a final whisper of molasses and oak."

BevX (extended review):
"It took two and a half years to get the balance right and the end result is nothing short of a pure essence of Jamaican allspice. This best version of Pimento Dram that we have sampled is a great buy. A little of this liqueur goes a long way and a single bottle will provide many flavor adventures."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Pungent clove leads, with white pepper spice, menthol, and star anise, alongside nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate
Strong clove and black pepper spice carry the entry, developing tongue-numbing aniseed, mellowing into new leather and fruitiness, with distinctive funky Jamaican rum character and caramel warmth.

Finish
Long and lingering, closing with aniseed, clove, rum funk, and a final whisper of molasses and oak.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Spiced holiday desserts
• Grilled or roasted pork (genuine "Christmas ham" character)
• Dark chocolate
• Tropical fruit-based dishes

Cocktail Suggestions

Mai Tai — a classic tiki application, adding real allspice depth.

Rum Old Fashioned
1¾ oz aged rum · ¼ oz Hamilton Pimento Dram · dash of bitters.

On the Rocks — genuinely enjoyable on its own, with a single ice cube.