Aroma visualization from community tastings
Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River
Charred pineapple, roasted oak and brown sugar, with a little Guyanese funk and a smoky, tobacco edge. Several tasters call it "essential tiki" — it's a workhorse Demerara that carries cocktails well and still holds up neat, though there's a clear alcohol bite on the nose. Some find it heavy and complex for the money; others just want more flavor.
The community says- Great in tiki drinks
- Roasted oak & pineapple
- But: Alcohol on nose
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The look inside the bottle
How does Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River taste?
Aggregated from 48 community reviews.
Charred-pineapple Demerara built for tiki A dependable Guyana rum most people rate as a strong tiki and everyday mixer. It sips too, but the alcohol on the nose and a short finish keep a few from loving it neat.
Tiki and cocktail makers who want a working Demerara
People chasing a smooth, sweet neat sipper
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
18 of 48 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
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Highlights from the community
How is Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.5 sits in the “Good” band. 68% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 2% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
81% rate it between 6 and 8. 12 selected write-ups from 48 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Mark Leggett
Really have wanted to try some Hamilton rums, this is my first. Smells of Demerara sugar, oak barrel and a little Jamaican funk. Jamaican funk hits a little at the beginning but fades to caramel, tobacco, and a slight smokiness.
Review by Albert Zygmunt
I keep coming back. It has very heavy and complex taste without an age statement. The extra 6 proof really helps the overall flavor. I would pick this over El Dorado 12 any day. Great in cocktails or neat.
Review by Ian Gilman
Love the 151 and this is my favorite Guyanese I’ve had. More versatile than its older brother.
Review by The Rum Zombie
Sweetness with no bite. Very well rounded. I liked better than El Dorado 12 side by side.
Review by Leo Krüper
Solider Guyana Sipper
Review by abaker-rum
A good mixing rum, this rum is well suited for tiki drinks with its ester and tropical fruit profiles working well with typical tiki ingredients. You get pineapple, banana, ester, and some nail polish on the nose. The taste has tropical fruits, esters, and some spice, followed by a medium finish with spice and a little caramelization.
Review by deanopeez
Heavy alcohol on the nose but surprisingly smooth taste. Sweetness right off the bat, with some woodiness on the back end. Leaves the tongue quickly.
Review by MaddenC11
The nose is very pleasant as the Demerara sugar really comes through, among notes of pineapple, banana, and chocolate. Flavor notes of caramel, tobacco, tropical fruit, and wood. The finish is very short with a slightly metallic taste. Not overly complex and has a bit of heat, but still an acceptable sipper for the price.
Review by Max13
Reminds me of Appleton. Would think if a recipe calls for separate Demerara and another Jamaican rum to maybe skip this one.
Review by Skyfly
Guyana that you can drink or mix better. The alcohol stings too much in the nose, which should be gone with the right amount of cola. Lots of cask, wood and sweetness. Caramel and some tropical fruit on the palate.
Review by Peter Bosel
Not bad; I kind of want it stronger, but I guess that's what the 151 is for.
Review by RumCzar
Demerara rum gets a lot of hype, but it really isn't very exciting. This rum is just fine. I can sip it neat, but I prefer something with more flavor. I only buy this for mixing at parties because of it's low price.
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Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 7.6/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
Read full review →
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
Live auctions
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Market value
Avg. community purchase price 28 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River
A rum from Guyana, bottled by Five & 20 Spirits, at 43%.
What do the letters on a Demerara label mean? The RumX guide →
Community purchases
201 bottles logged by 178 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
23% opened, 19 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River?
Community paid 20–30 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+8 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
201 purchased · 50 tasted · 50 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
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