I initially bought Hamilton’s 8-year St. Lucian, and although there were some very interesting and promising notes, that rum also had metallic and petroleum solvent qualities that to me always stood out as flaws— I had to focus to not taste them so I could still marvel at some of the promising notes that left me wanting more. The 9-year, however, does not possess those flaws, and lives up to all the promising notes of the 8-year and more. This is an intense rum with all the dunder and funk hogo-heads could ever crave— makes Smith and Cross, and Denizen’s 8-year taste lightweight and confectionery. This is the kind of intense, challenging rum I’ve long dreamed about. Like the best music, it warrants repeated tastings— the rum continues to offer new qualities as your friendship with it deepens.