Hamilton Single Cask Demerara #15242 Guyanese Rum 2012
Barrel proof | 750mL | Distilled 2012 | Single cask #15242 | Diamond Distillery, Guyana — Hamilton Single Cask Demerara #15242 is one vintage from one barrel: distilled in 2012 at Guyana's famed Diamond Distillery and bottled at full barrel strength by Ed Hamilton, the Ministry of Rum founder who pioneered unadulterated Caribbean rum in the US. Non-chill filtered, no sugar or additives. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
This is Demerara at its most elemental — a single barrel of the classic Demerara-distillery profile (blended pot-and-column still heritage) with over a decade in oak. Expect wave after wave of molasses-rich intensity: burnt sugar, fig, leather, campfire smoke, blackstrap molasses, clove, and charred oak, finishing long and warming with cocoa nibs, spice, and dry tannic grip. Among high-proof single-cask rums, a 2012 Diamond Distillery barrel at cask strength is collector-grade territory.
Tasting notes
Nose: burnt sugar, fig, leather, campfire smoke. Palate: blackstrap molasses, clove, charred oak, roasted banana. Finish: long, warming, cocoa nibs, spice, tannic grip. (Retailer consensus notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- Single cask #15242 — distilled 2012, Diamond Distillery, Guyana
- Bottled at barrel proof, non-chill filtered, zero additives
- From Ed Hamilton, founder of the Ministry of Rum and a pillar of the Demerara revival
- Limited, unrepeatable — when the barrel is gone, it's gone
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a Glencairn with time in the glass — a few drops of water tame the cask strength beautifully.
Frequently asked questions
What proof is this bottled at?
Full barrel proof — bottled at its natural cask strength.
Is it sweetened?
No — Hamilton rums are bottled with no added sugar or additives.
What is Demerara rum?
Rum from the Demerara region of Guyana, famous for its deep molasses, smoke, and dark-fruit character.
Is this a limited edition?
Yes — a single cask yields a fixed number of bottles; it can't be replicated.