Tiki Central / Tiki Drinks and Food / Updates to The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide on The Atomic Grog
Post #736753 by Hurricane Hayward on Fri, Feb 6, 2015 2:15 AM
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Hurricane Hayward
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Fri, Feb 6, 2015 2:15 AM
If you've been following along over on the "LH 151 replacement" thread, you'll know that importer Ed Hamilton has run into a snag with his rums from Guyana, forcing him to stop bottling with the original label. In a nutshell, he's not allowed to legally use "Demerara" in the name, even though the rums come from Demerara Distillers. The taste, however, speaks for itself. Both the 151 and 86 proof rums are certainly fine replacements for Lemon Hart Demerara rum. I plan a full update of all The Mai-Kai drinks that feature Demerara/Hamilton rums over on The Atomic Grog once the rum is back in the distribution pipeline with a new label, probably by early next month. It's not known if The Mai-Kai has enough of its initial supply of the Hamilton rums to last until then, so I'd rather hold off on updating all the reviews until we're sure the rums are flowing freely without interruption. In the meantime, here are some quick comments on the above four cocktails, plus a photo of the soon-to-be-a-collectible bottle and its disputed label ... 151 SWIZZLE: When compared side-by-side to the same drink containing Gosling's 151, the version with Hamilton 151 is decidedly richer, smokier and boasts extra heat. JET PILOT: The high-octane Hamilton 151 adds complex smoky flavors and depth to this drink, which can become too sweet when mixed with Gosling's 151. ZOMBIE: Hamilton 151 fits the Zombie flavor profile better than Gosling's, and it blends much better with the sweet elements in The Mai-Kai's version of the classic. It amps the drink up a notch, making if very smooth and spicy. SHRUNKEN SKULL: The floater of Hamilton 151 makes this drink much smoother and balanced than Gosling's did. It blends perfectly with the tart and sweet elements. The differences noted above are understandable since all of these drinks were designed to be mixed with Lemon Hart 151. But how does Hamilton 151 stack up against the original? We put them to the test in the Zombie ... The result? The Lemon Hart version seemed to be smoother and more mellow, while the Hamilton 151 Zombie packed a little more kick and was just a tad rougher around the edges. But the differences are definitely subtle. If you enjoy just a little extra heat, you'll find the new rum right up your alley. Still to come, notes on the other Mai-Kai cocktails switching over to Hamilton rums:
Bonus: I had originally thought that all of the above were mixed with the lower proof Demerara rum. But during my research, I've discovered that one of them actually features the 151 rum, while another contains both 151 and 80-proof (or Hamilton 86). Look for updated reviews and recipes soon. Okole maluna! |
