It is, isn't, is.. Dept: 'Edward Hamilton Signature Series'

[Capn Jimbo]

From a thread of the same name...


But now called the "Ministry of Rum Collection", or...


Here's a brief history of another Hamilton proposition. Many years ago, this gentleman self-published a not so successful book on rum, and for years thereafter said another book was in the works, yet years later, nada. Truth be told "The Complete Rum Reference Guide" by Luis Ayala was and remains far superior and is the real collector's item. But let's review:


On October 12, 2011 the idea was born...

Hamilton: "I'm asked everyday to suggest some rums to new and old rum lovers. I'm looking at a few rums to bottle under my brand name. The working brand name is Edward Hamilton Selection but that could and probably will change.

I'm going to be bottling a few rums that aren't the most expensive on the planet but rather rums that aren't in large supply. Small batches of barrels that are representative of a region."

As far as a name he actually paid homage to The Rum Project, amazing...

"I think I'm stuck with my name though maybe Pirate Ed, no scratch that. Sailor Ed, scratch that too. But Captain Hamilton does have a certain ring to it, maybe not. "

What a hoot. He then patted himself on the back for his tremendous contributions to um, honesty...

"I have worked for many years to improve the reputation of my favorite spirit and to that end I want to give consumers and rum aficionados as much verifiable information as possible about the spirit in their glass."

Really? You mean like the use of unlabeled additives, coloring and honest age? Nope, but he intended to provide other information...

"I would only bottle a product for which I can tell you where it was distilled, not an island, but a distillery with the name of the distiller. Wouldn't it also be nice to know things like the proof at which it went into barrel, for how long, when it was put in that barrel and the proof at which it was taken out of the barrel? "

He continues...

"Here are a few things that will be on the label.

Raw Material
Fermentation ABV
Date Distilled
Distillation ABV
Barrel Number
Date Barrel Filled
Barrel Volume
Barrel ABV
Date Barrel Emptied
Barrel ABV

As for bottle proof, just below 100 proof works best for distribution, cost and taxes. In a number of states the taxes double at 100 proof. 96.5 - 98.2 proof seems to be a good range."

He also intended extremely small runs, "about 1000 bottles" Will he fulfill these promises? Carry on...


Nada happens, but after much, much time...

Wow! A project that didn't go much of anywhere for a year and a half suddenly reappears in this very old thread, when Eddie drops a bomb...

"Right now I'm trying to get a container, 3 1000-liter totes were going to cost more than $1500 each, to ship 5 1000-liter totes from Jamaica to New York and then it has to be shipped to the bottler.

And, I'm trying to get 6 barrels of aged rum from St Lucia to New York to be bottled at cask strength. At this point, shipping seems to be the last major hurdle though I'm sure there will be others.

Once this is bottled you'll be able to enter a bottle number on this website and see more details about the rum in your bottle than you've ever seen before, including pictures of the people who made this happen."

Double wow!! Of a moment there is now an actual rum, an actual amount, a plan to ship and bottle! Great uh, "Edward" (his preferred manner of address), good on you! He also reconfirms that you'll now be able to access his website for "more details about the rum... than you've ever seen before, including (gulp) pictures of the people who made this happen".

This is truly amazing stuff, and we'll soon enjoy this special Jamaican rum, right Eddie? Looks that way, right? Must be 'cause just four days later on the 18th, one of his monkeys even posted links to his approved labels...

...
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 9001000224

...
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 3001000043


A Scorecard...

Eddie's project began in the last quarter of 2011. After an orgasm of promises, nada, but on April 10th - just a few weeks ago - a bomb of an announcement! The rum was real, was from Jamaica, was ordered and now apparently just weeks from shipping and bottling. Excellent!

Now how 'bout the labeling? What did he promise? These, and more.

Raw Material
Fermentation ABV
Date Distilled
Distillation ABV
Barrel Number
Date Barrel Filled
Barrel Volume
Barrel ABV
Date Barrel Emptied
Barrel ABV

Out of more than 10 items promised, and on the labels he applied for? Just 3 items. Not so good.

But what really caught my eye? These labels clearly stated "...no flavoring or coloring agents" Now THAT really is something for the "It's all good" Patriarch. But just two weeks after his announcement that he was trying to ship five 1000 liter totes, he now claims that the labels are wrong, the actual rum is NOT from Worthy Park and the rum IS colored. Oh boy, here we go again.


So what's the truth? Survey sez...

Let's examine Eddie's latest claim, namely that "...Those labels were for a previous rum that I wanted to import but that didn't happen. As for coloring, it will be sugar based caramel." Specifically: "The name that has evolved is the Ministry of Rum Collection and the Jamaican rum will be Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum. Yes, it will be colored with sugar based caramel and be a palatable Jamaican pot still rum that can trace its origin to the sugar cane in the field next to the distillery."

This is clearly a very different rum from the "Ministry of Rum Collection" Worthy Park labels of only a few months ago.

For this to be true we have to believe that Eddie proposed his rum in late 2011, then applied and received approval for labels for a very specific rum (Worthy Park, 95%, free of "flavor or color agents") just months ago in late 2012, then announced a shipment of about 5000 liters just a few weeks ago, and then - without any approved labels that we can find, and without any warning - states that the rum that appeared to have been purchased is - Surprise! - a different rum? And for which no label has been applied for? After letting Silverstreak and Mikey wait for over a week for confirmation?

Are you confused? I am. Look. It seems to me that if it was appropriate to apply for the impressive Worthy Park labels months in advance of shipping and bottling (which makes sense), it makes little sense that if that if it were the new colored rum that was awaiting shipping, that it too would long ago have had its label applied for and approved. True or not? Or is it more likely that the Worthy deal fell apart, that the impending shipment for Worthy never was, and that he's started all over with another obviously lesser rum (a "palatable Jamaican pot-stilled black rum")? And for which he has not yet identified a distiller or age, nor released any other information other than its name?

You decide. As for me and as hard as its getting, I prefer to give him the benefit of a rapidly increasing doubt.

[Capn Jimbo]

Call for help...


I've always been impressed those of our wonderful posters who really have a knack for research. For the life of me, I simply cannot find any labels applied for/approved by the TTB (linked above, just under each set of labels). I've done all the usual searches but the only labels that show up are for the Worthy Park, "no flavor, no color agents" rum and for the Martiniqean Dusquesne Rhum Blanc he apparently represents at his Caribbean Spirits.

The Duquesne label:
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 1001000128



Another curiosity...

The only other listing that appears on a search for "minstryofrum.com" is the TTB approved an ID number in 2009 for...

Plant Registry/Basic Permit/Brewers No:
IL-I-1260
CARIBBEAN SPIRITS, CARIBBEAN SPIRITS, INC.
2310 W NELSON , #201
CHICAGO, IL 60618

Contact Information:
EDWIN HAGER
Phone Number: (312) 286-1995
Fax Number: (312) 489-2361
ED@MINISTRYOFRUM.COM

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 1001000010

If anyone can find a label for the latest "Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum" (colored), please do share the link. Thanks.

[Capn Jimbo]

More stuff, and a brief history...


By searching on the term "Caribbean Spirts" I located...


1. Some apparently non-related products (vodka, etc) from Florida Caribbean Distillers, unrelated to Hamilton's company.

2. A different contact in 2004:

Contact Information:
ROBERT BERMAN
Phone Number: (312) 288-7034
Fax Number: (312) 427-6085
BERMAND7@AOL.COM

3. 2004: a label for RHUM VIEUX DISTILLERIE REIMONENQ
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 5001000072

4. 2004: a label for DUBQUESNE BLANC (50%), Martinique
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 1001000128

5. The latest contact in 2009:

Contact Information:
EDWIN HAGER
Phone Number: (312) 286-1995
Fax Number: (312) 489-2361
ED@MINISTRYOFRUM.COM

6. 2012: a label for RHUM VIEUX DISTILLERIE BLANC
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/v ... 1001000010


Another curiosity...

Edwin Hager, agent for Edward Hamilton's Caribbean Spirits, Inc. and using the same email address, ed@ministryofrum.com? Thanks to all who may find more about the "new" "Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum". If this exists, a label must surely exist, nicht vahr?

[Capn Jimbo]

Despite all, I gave Eddie the benefit of the doubt...


...and glad I did. It appears that "Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum" is real and is imminent, although no label has been found or reported. Here's an exerpt from his post of yesterday in which he posts his To Do List:

"The first step in the process was initiated Friday with a wire payment to the distiller. Still waiting on confirmation that it arrived, once that's done I can confirm a shipping date from Jamaica.

Here's a short list of the things that have to happen before I can put the first bottle on the shelf. Confirm shipping date
Truck rum to Kingston to be loaded in a container and taken to the port for loading on a ship.

Pay the freight consolidator in Kingston
File ISF security papers 48 hours before the container is loaded.
File pre-entry customs and FDA papers - the good news is that I have a very good customs broker in NJ who has never let me down.
Pay the shipping company
Pay customs, FDA, security inspections, etc.
Have the container picked up from the port in NJ and taken to the warehouse in NJ.
Ship the rum to MA to be bottled.
While the rum is being diluted -
Purchase 1100 cases of bottles
Purchase 13,000 closures
Print labels, capsules and have them delivered to the bottler
Ship 5 gallons of caramel to the bottler
Color the rum after dilution
Bottle and ship the rum back to the NJ warehouse
Register the rum in those states in which it needs to be registered
Take orders and ship to distributors"

(Items of interest underlined)


Let's discuss the items of interest...

1. I take him at his word that the "Worthy Park, 95%, "no color or flavor agents: is dead. The replacement is alleged to be "Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum", a colored rum.

2. Only weeks ago the shipment was said to be 5000 liters (about 6700 750's - now he claims to be ordering 13,000 "closures", ie roughly twice as much rum. "Closures" implies a screw cap, but that is not clear.

3. 5 gallons of "caramel" has been ordered. That is roughly 1.5 ml per bottle, which is just short of 0.2% coloring. To compare, Ian Wisnewski states that colored whisky only requires about 0.01% of standard E150a caramel coloring to do the job. Home Distilling agrees and has estimated that 2 or 3 drops of E-150a caramel coloring in a bottle will do it (about 0.02% or less).

Mind you Eddie has promoted his rum as a "black" rum; nonetheless ordering 20 times the amount of E-150s needed is curious - unless the caramel ordered is NOT E-150a but rather is a dark brown flavouring caramel which yes, will color the rum, but will also act to flavor, smooth and add body to it.

4. Labels must be "printed and delivered to the bottler", of course, but to this date no label can be found, or is reported. The Worthy Park labels took a month to be approved; further, tt is unclear what information will appear on new labels - his original promise was to provide more than 10 items of information about the rum.

This is clearly a lot of work. Still, with this long laundry list there is no indication of the the copious data he promised to provide about the rum, including:

Raw Material
Fermentation ABV
Date Distilled
Distillation ABV
Barrel Number
Date Barrel Filled
Barrel Volume
Barrel ABV
Date Barrel Emptied
Barrel ABV

...and not to mention distiller, details of fermentation, distillation, age or aging, batch, additives, flavorings, et al. All we know is that we went from an original concept of very limited runs of 1000 bottles of specially selected, "no flavor or color agents, completely described rums to 6700, then to 13,000 bottles of a "palatable pot stilled Jamaican colored rum" that may be named "Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black".

The good news: a new, pot-stilled Jamaican rum will momentarily be paid for, and may be released.

The bad: Unfortunately no details are available, and the five gallons what is described as "caramel" (not as E-150a caramel coloring). What we don't need is another young rum with unlabeled additives or added flavoring caramel.

To be completely honest, it's getting harder to extend the benefit of the doubt, but time will tell.




*******

Late breaking news!:

To my complete surprise, none other than the Artic Wolf has challenged Hamilton on this amount of "caramel" Hamilton has ordered, asking:

Arctic Wolf: "5 Gallons of Caramel sounds like an awful lot to me? Is this caramel strictly for colouring, or are you expecting a flavour enhancement as well?"

This is a brazen and brave move, and sounded more like 1% than the Wolf. Kudo's to the Wolf for putting his hairy nuts on the line. .

[Capn Jimbo]

The more things change...


Keep in mind we are dealing with a alleged rum representative, the Preacher/Prophet of rum - a connected guy. His original plan was for a series of very small (1000 bottles) and exclusive releases of aged, unflavored and uncolored rums. Terrific! Or was it? Although even labels were designed and approved, the project morphed and grew into an estimated 13,000 bottles of a highly colored, "black" Jamaican rum to be shipped in up to five 1000 liter "totes" (containers). The label changed again to "Hamilton Jamaican Pot-Stilled Black Rum", to be supplied by Worthy Park - a bulk distiller that has only begun to set aside limited amounts of rum for aging.

In a recent post, the Ham stated:

"... I'm hoping to ship some barrels of rum aged 7-9 years. The ABV will vary from ~58% to ~63%ABV. I've been asked by a couple of retailers to bottle this pot still rum at 45%ABV. because they believe spirits at less than 50% ABV will be more approachable by their customers. I tend to agree, but I know some people... would rather buy a cask-strength rum ... "

Keep in mind that earlier he'd quizzed the monkeys on how they'd feel about a non-colored rum, and got the unexpected answer that if it were the same rum, why bother with the coloring. This week's Preacher's Pop Quiz was to ask the hairy boyz at what percent they'd prefer this magnificent new product to be bottled. The three answers: 85-99%, 93% and 90-95%. As if their answers mattered, he then announced his final-for-the-moment percentage of 93.5% a tad higher than his last label (at 92.2%).


Observations...

1. The admission of 7 to 9 years confirms our earlier speculations that Worthy Park - who was more known as a producer of sugar and molasses - finally started a side operation with a single 18,000 liter copper pot still to start to produce bulk rums of low, medium and high ester. They produced a handful of local rums called "Rum Bar", "Rum Bar Cream" and "Worthy Gold". In 2005 they began to set aside a bit of rum for aging.

It is a fair assumption that the Ministry of Rum Collection may be from this latter stock.

2. It is more than curious that the Master of Rum is still quizzing his monkeys for guidance this late in the game, and would depend on the three or four answers obtained. This is called engaging the market, to appear to give them input - or - he really needs their input. You decide.

3. It is well to remember Richard Seale's insistence on bottling any product he produces, whether for his own or for other's products to prevent alteration of the rum after distilling and aging.

4. WTF happened to the five 1000 liter totes? Now he's bringing in barrels?

Hamilton claims the rum will be available in Florida, and you can be sure we will find and give it a good and honest go...

[Capn Jimbo]

Mystery solved? Maybe, but...


We were sure that Hamilton's statement that the rum was "7-9 years" surely referred to the likely very heavily colored Worthy Park "Jamaican Pot-Stilled Black", as a to-do list had been published, as was the latest label for this rum.

Somehow, the slithering simian supervisor has avoided yet another tossed banana peel. Although it was never discussed, at least as far as we could find, now the ministerial magician reached into his hat and reveals? What?

A rum from St. Lucia, along with a brand-new, altered to-do list, and a pictures of what appears to be some very tired barrels strapped to newish wooden shipping palettes! First, the altered to-do list:

"I've added 18 casks of 5,7,8 and 9 year old St Lucian Aged Pot Still Rum to the first bottling. One cask of each age will be bottled at cask strength, the remaining will be bottled at between 92 and 94 US Proof."


Confirm payment to the distiller - April 29
Confirm shipping - date May 8
Truck rum to Kingston to be loaded in a container and taken to the port for loading on a ship.
Pay the freight consolidator in Kingston
File ISF security papers 48 hours before the container is loaded.
File pre-entry customs and FDA papers - the good news is that I have a very good customs broker in NJ who has never let me down.
Pay the shipping company
Pay customs, FDA, security inspections, etc.
Have the container picked up from the port in NJ and taken to the warehouse in NJ.
Pay FET and Ship the rum to the bottler.
Pay for St Lucian rum and shipping.
Purchase capsules to cover closures and provide anti-tampering protection.
St Lucian rum is shipping June 10th. Expected in NY June 22nd.
Clear the St Lucian rum, pay FET and ship to bottler.
While the Jamaican rum is being diluted -
Purchase cases of bottles and closures. Quote is in place and account with vendor has been established.
Ship 5 gallons of caramel to the bottler
Color the Jamaican rum after dilution
Bottle the rum after confirming the ABV of the cask strength rums.
Print labels and have them delivered to the bottler. The label has been approved.
Label all the cases of bottled rum.
Ship the rum back to the NJ warehouse
Register the rum in those states in which it needs to be registered
Take orders and ship to distributors

(Compare to the original list, several posts above)

Now based on the statement "...there are 6-5 and 7 year old barrels, 2-8 year old barrels and 4-9 year old barrels shipping tomorrow from St Lucia...", and assuming (forgive me) the most common storage unit - the hogshead, at 225 liters - that would be a maximum of 5400-750's. But wait! That's assuming that (a) the barrels have no air space (not likely) and (b) that it will be bottled at barrel strength.

According to the Supervisor only 3 of the 18 barrels will be bottled at barrel strength (what, maybe 120 proof?), which would lead to a completely idiotic guesstimate of hmmmm, errrrrrr... 6600-750's? Thus this new rabbit-out-of-the-hat St. Lucian rum seemingly accounts for roughly half of the 13,000 closures.

If you believe a Compleat Idiot.

So much for for high school algebra. Upon questioning by "Sailor" he avoids the subject of coloring for this newest rum, but completely refutes the idea of chill filtering, stating that "...you also lose some of the goodness of the rum." adding that chill filtering IS appropriate, but for only high ester rums. Does this mean the Lucian shipment is low ester (flavor)? After all, I've never seen an anti-chill filitering policy at that pub. Although the St. Lucian distillery does have an old pot still, it appears that its output is limited to flavoring the thin rum produced by their newish double column still (much like flavouring whiskies are added to Canadian near neutral spirit to add flavor to a near tasteless bulk product).

"Sailor" also noted that he could find no labels for the Lucifer's Fire, which the Ham countered by claiming "....There are a few small changes being made to the labels so I'm going to wait...". WTF?! More changes? Again? Last time we went from a color and flavoring free pure rum to a heavily colored light rum.

What next? And around and around she goes...

[Capn Jimbo]

It's time to review...


Regarding his on again, off again "Signature" series rums from Jamaica and St. Lucia, Hamilton promised a number of things:

1. That his labels would be the most comprehensive ever and would include:

Raw Material
Fermentation ABV
Date Distilled
Distillation ABV
Barrel Number
Date Barrel Filled
Barrel Volume
Barrel ABV
Date Barrel Emptied
Barrel ABV

2. The labels he submitted for approval only included three of these ten facts; however the Jamaican label promised "...no flavoring or coloring agents". Now THAT was an impressive claim! Unfortunately, he almost immediately retreated from that, at least insofar as the Jamaican release which is nothing more than a heavily colored, 92 proof black rum.

3. I could find his rums for sale in just one independent outlets, whom I called. This outlet is selling:

HAMILTON JAMAICAN GOLD RUM 750ML 46.1%ABV, $22.99
HAMILTON JAMAICAN BLACK RUM 750ML 46.1%, $23.99

HAMILTON ST LUCIA 5YR RUM 750M 46%ABV, $34.99
HAMILTON ST LUCIAN RUM 5YR 59% ABV 750ML, $41.99

HAMILTON ST LUCIAN 7YR RUM 750 46%ABV, $35.99
HAMILTON ST LUCIAN 7YR RUM 63% ABV 750ML, $44.99

HAMILTON ST LUCIA RUM 8YR 750M 46%, $40.99
HAMILTON ST LUCIAN 8YR 63% ABV 750ML, $49.99

HAMILTON ST LUCIAN 9YR RUM 750 46%ABV, $42.99
HAMILTON ST LUCIAN 9YR RUM 750 46%ABV, $41.99
HAMILTON ST LUCIAN RUM 9YR 61% ABV, $56.99

It is interesting to note that although nearly all of the 200 plus rums offered by this outlet are listed with a picture of the bottle and label, NONE of Hamilton's rums carries an actual picture of the bottle and label. Further although almost all the well known rums link to a full description of the rum, I could find NO Hamilton rums that did.

Although Hamilton had not earlier mentioned selling a gold Jamaican, he is now but it seems obvious that this product is simply a lesser colored version of the black rum. Last I asked the salesperson to check stock, and to then read the labels to me, with particular emphasis on whether any of these contained a statement attesting to "no additives or coloring". He could find no such statement.


Some observations

The gold and black Jamaicans are both low priced and likely based on the same rum. The St. Lucians are closely spaced (5,7,8,9 years) which creates an interesting sales proposition. With only a $1 difference, who would buy the 5 year over the 7 year? The same issue exists for the 8 and 9 year. Why hasn't the outlet published an actual picture of the bottle? Weren't they provided a marketing kit?

And why are there no independent reviews of these now released rums? We know why Burr is unlikely to comment, but doesn't the Prophet surely have a following of other equally compliant monkey reviewers? And if so why haven't they received review samples? It gets curioser and curioser.

But most important, it is difficult to forget just what a huge emphasis the proposed Hamilton's placed on their allegedly firm intention of presenting "the most information ever published" on these rums. Neither can we ignore the previous label application that boasted of "no flavorings or coloring". At this late stage it appears these early bombastic promises seem now empty.

What's your guess?

[da'rum]

My guess? It's average lolly water at best. Perhaps with a a small amount of charm due to Jamaican pot stills. Will I buy it? Not a chance.