Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Blonde Rum
Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Blonde Rum is a 750mL Jamaican rum at 45% ABV — 90 proof — made entirely from Worthy Park Estate pot still rum, distilled from fermented molasses. Hamilton diluted the base blend to 70% and rested it about 18 months in emptied St Lucian Pot Still barrels at Five & 20 Spirits in Westfield, New York, added about 12% of a 1-year-old Worthy Park light rum aged in Jamaica, married the blend another 5 to 6 months in barrel, then bottled it unfiltered — with no caramel or sugar added. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: 100% Worthy Park Estate, Jamaica — pot still, fermented molasses
- Ageing: ~18 months in emptied St Lucian Pot Still barrels (New York) + ~12% 1-year-old Jamaican-aged light rum, married 5–6 months (official account)
- Finishing: Unfiltered; no caramel or sugar added (official)
The Blonde Is the Barrel-Aged One
Among Hamilton's Jamaican Pot Still siblings, the colour usually comes from caramel — the Blonde is the exception: its pale gold is real barrel time. Ed Hamilton built it as his Jamaican Daiquiri rum, and the short, honest ageing leaves the Worthy Park funk intact under a layer of barrel softness. The first batch was just 198 cases. Browse the range on the Hamilton vendor page or see more rum.
Tasting Notes
Creamy overripe banana funk with vanilla, tropical fruit, coconut and light florals; a smooth palate of banana softened by the barrel, light butterscotch and fresh tropical fruit; a medium, clean, lightly funky finish with ginger and banana.
How to Enjoy
The Daiquiri it was made for — or a Kingston Negroni riff, or neat to taste what short ageing does to pot still funk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Blonde? Its pale colour comes from its short barrel rest rather than caramel colouring — the opposite of its darker siblings.
Where was it aged? Mostly in New York: about 18 months in emptied St Lucian Pot Still barrels at Five & 20, with a component of 1-year-old rum aged in Jamaica, married a further 5–6 months.
Is sugar or caramel added? No — Hamilton states explicitly that no caramel or sugar was added after distillation, and the rum is bottled unfiltered.
Real barrel time under real Jamaican funk — order Hamilton Pot Still Blonde online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.