Ed Hamilton - Sailor, Smuggler, Importer

In the world of fine rums, Ed Hamilton needs no introduction. He is the man behind the Ministry of Rum – a line of hand-selected, pot still rums from St. Lucia and Jamaica – as well as importer of the famed Lemon Hart 151 and Rhum Agricoles such as Neisson and La Favorite.

A modern-day pirate of sorts, Hamilton's career in rum officially started after years of living aboard his sailboat called Matahari in the Caribbean running rum from St. Thomas to Puerto Rico (a smuggler, if you will) and visiting distilleries in the 1990s. He has since carved out his place as one of the world's foremost experts on island sprits. In fact, his two books Rums of the Eastern Caribbean and The Complete Guide to Rum: An Authoritative Guide to Rums of the World, published in 1996 and 1997 respectively, are regarded as the most comprehensive sources on the subject.  He was also one of the first to champion transparency in the production process of rum, meaning his rums are made without additives (save for water and, in some instances, natural, sugar-based caramel coloring) and bottled unfiltered. Sadly, not long after these books were published, he ran aground of off the coast of Antigua and the Matahari sank. Ed has since bought a larger, newer boat, but as he spends most of his time consulting and running his import business, his time sailing in the islands is limited.

My three favorite rums from his line are listed below and each offers a unique drinking experience. The Hamilton 151 Demerara Overproof is my go-to for tiki drinks, the single-vintage 2006 St. Lucian rum outshines many whiskies in terms of complexity, and the Jamaican Gold is perfect in a cocktail or sipped its own. Rum is the world’s most diverse distilled spirit and these truly highlight a few distinct examples. Even though you may not own a boat like Ed Hamilton, you can still enjoy boat drinks made with his rums!

-Tim Gagnon