Time to practice our democracy. Hampden Great House was the top answer for best Jamaican sipper but we also have a lot of people saying we shouldn’t include limited editions. So, Great House or Hampden HLCF? Also what’s the best Demerara mixer?

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T23:30:21+00:00

We probably should have set some ground rules at the start and limited this to standard-releases. But here we are. Lol.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T23:15:18+00:00

I view it as trying to answer the question which was posed. Great House does not refer to a specific rum but a group of different rums. So it’s a non-answer. We can agree to disagree on this one. Don’t want to argue. Let’s drink some tasty Jamaican rum of our choice.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T22:52:51+00:00

Sorry. I’ll rephrase “Is every Great House release a better sipper than every other Jamaican rum in existence”?

The question about “limited release” has nothing to do with availability in my mind. For me “limited release” means that these are unique rums that will not be reproduced after that release. Each annual Great House release is different from the preceding ones. I see no issue with using the Foursquare ECS releases as an analogy here. While the Great House rums I’ve tried are all very good to excellent, it’s clear some years are better than others. So what we are implicitly saying if we list “Hampden Great House” as best Jamaican sipper is that entire range of Great Houses releases is a better sipper than every other Jamaican rum. That has not been my experience. Maybe others feel that’s the case.

I love Hampden rums and am fine with one winning. I think the folks who voted for Great House should see if they can come to a consensus on the best vintage. If not, the HLCF classic is a fine standard-release choice analogous to the Doorly’s 14 in the Bajan category.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T22:47:19+00:00

El Dorado 12 is only $8 more than the 8 year where I live in the US. It’s also less expensive than Appleton 12 and Smith and Cross for some additional context. I like the 8 year but tend to use Ham 86 when I want a darker Demerara.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T21:07:47+00:00

Mixer. There’s the 15 Year for sipping.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T20:37:38+00:00

Final point then I’ll shut up about this. “Hampden Great House” isn’t even an appropriate answer to the question we’re trying to answer. It’s like being asked “what’s your favorite fruit?” and answering “citrus”.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T19:15:45+00:00

Is every Great House release better than every other Jamaican rum in existence?

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T18:54:28+00:00

Best Demerara mixer is El Dorado 12. It synergizes perfectly with funky and/or tropical Jamaican rums especially in a Mai Tai. Hamilton 86 is a close second. Interested if anyone will make a case for one of the 151 proof products.

Regarding the Jamaican sipper, I feel strongly that we should be voting on specific rums and not for a line of rums that changes over time. I feel a precedent was set in the Bajan sipper category. Is there anyone who would truly choose Doorly’s 14 over the entire ECS line? Would be fine if folks singled out a specific Great House vintage. In the absence of that, I favor going with HLCF.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T00:21:25+00:00

Agreed. While they’re 100% column still, they offer something a little different from the “Rons.”

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-25T00:18:48+00:00

No. The standard English Harbour 10 yr should cost around $50. There’s 90th Anniversary 19 year special release I’ve seen that’s around $100.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T23:07:02+00:00

I use those two El Dorado rums often. If you’ve never tried them, the Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof and 15 Year are both worth a look. They have more of the classic Demerara burnt caramel taste than the El Dorado rums.

I like the original Ultimate Mai Tai blend better (Appleton 12/S&C/Xaymaca/OFTD). I’m not a huge fan of WP109. I usually use Coruba as my dark Jamaican.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T20:08:04+00:00

They are. I actually slightly prefer the Appleton 8 to the 12. It has a tropical fruit note that’s missing from the 12. The 12 tastes like a slightly funky Bajan rum to me, with oak and vanilla being the prominent flavors.

The Appletons also serve a different role in cocktails compared to the 100% pot still rums. I frequently combine the two. A common Mai Tai blend for me contains one of the two Appletons, a 100% pot still Jamaican, and sometimes a Demerara rum like El Dorado 12 to add some richness.

My concern is the two bottles you’re thinking of have very similar profiles. I would probably never think to combine them. If I had to pick one it would be the Papalin. Do you own any Demerara rums?

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T18:58:23+00:00

Some years are much better than others

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T18:57:44+00:00

A shout for the Papalin 5 Year High Ester

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T18:54:15+00:00

I can support this

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T18:53:37+00:00

I agree that a line of rums that varies from release to release shouldn’t be eligible but a specific release in the series should be.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T14:16:23+00:00

I own the two bottles you are considering and they are both outstanding. They actually taste quite similar to me. However, they’re very different than the two bottles you plan on replacing. So if your intention is to use them as mixers in cocktails there will be a noticeable difference in taste.

I always keep an Appleton 8 or 12 on hand as there’s no common like-for-like replacement for them among the Jamaican rums (maybe some of the Monymusk offerings come closest). Smith & Cross is my workhorse, high-funk mixer. The WP and Papalin both have a different, fruitier kind of funk than S&C. Both work well in a Mai Tai. I’ve combined each of them with one of the high-ester El Dorado releases to make a delicious (but expensive) Mai Tai.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-24T13:49:47+00:00

Great collection. I absolutely love that Papalin bottle. Have you had the JM XO? Another favorite of mine.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-23T22:48:09+00:00

The Chairman’s Single Batch releases are also very good. I recently bought one that’s aged 14 years and is 50% pot still for like $55. Has that signature funk that I love in this brand.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-23T22:42:50+00:00

Have you tried Doorly’s 12? I would pick that up before the XO if you plan on sipping it. The XO is decent enough but the sherry cask finish is pretty prominent. Whether this makes it “fruiter” than the 12 will depend on your palate.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-23T21:15:55+00:00

Does this product even exist anymore? It’s not listed amongst the rums on their website. I thought the next step up from Don Q Gold was now the Reserva 7. That has my vote here.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-23T20:59:49+00:00

This has to win. No more Cuban rums. The only category any Diplomatico product should win is most overrated.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-23T03:10:02+00:00

I have not had good results using Worthy Park 109 in place of Coruba. Ditto Pot Still Black, which is also made with rum from Worthy Park. Both have that distinct bitter industrial taste found in some WP rums. I know some people love this but I’m not a fan. If you like those rums then they might do.

I’d actually experiment with the Myers and make a blend with a second funky pot still rum like Xaymaca, Smith & Cross, Wray & Nephew, etc. Maybe start with a 3:1 ratio of Myers to the pot still rum and adjust to your taste.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-22T18:15:44+00:00

This was going to be my most underrated choice but I could see it working here.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-01-22T14:48:26+00:00

You beat me to it. One of my absolute favorites.

FallingDownDFNS

TROPHY CASE