Aroma visualization from community tastings
Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River
Charred pineapple, Demerara sugar and oak with a little Jamaican funk poking through — that's the picture most tasters paint. There's caramel, tobacco and a hint of smoke, plus a bit of alcohol bite on the nose. It reads more roasted and dry than sweet. People reach for it as a workhorse Guyana rum, often calling it "essential tiki" rather than a quiet neat sipper.
- Charred pineapple
- Great in cocktails
- Roasted, woody depth
+10
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How does Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River taste?
Aggregated from 45 community reviews.
Roasted, woody Guyana rum built for tiki Most see a heavy, roasted Demerara that earns its place in cocktails. A few find it not very exciting neat, and the nose can run hot, but it shines mixed.
Tiki and cocktail builders who want a roasted Demerara base
Anyone after a sweet, easy neat sipper
How is Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict , 7.5 lands squarely in the "Good" band. 68% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 2% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Rum reviews
Selected write-ups from 45 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 45 ratings
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
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
Details about Five & 20 Spirits Hamilton 86 Demerara River
A rum from Guyana, bottled by Five & 20 Spirits, at 43%.
Community purchases
194 bottles logged by 171 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+ →
+9 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months.
194 purchased · 46 tasted · 52 wishlist · as of
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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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