Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Barrels Review

Introduction

For this episode, we’re diving into a unique offering from the Old Hamer line by West Fork Whiskey: Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Barrels. Though it shares some DNA with Old Hamer, this expression takes a distinct turn by finishing in rum casks, and we couldn’t resist dubbing it “Huge Hammer” throughout the episode.

This bourbon boasts a 99% corn, 1% malted barley mash bill, is aged 4–6 years, and clocks in at 103 proof. The label doesn’t specify what kind of rum barrels are used, which leads us to believe it could be a mix. Regardless, we were excited to see how this high-corn bourbon would hold up with a rum finish. Let’s jump in.

Nose

Brad: This is a really pleasant nose. There is caramel, there’s maple frosting. It’s got a nice vanilla zest to it. There is a decent amount of like a corn pops vibe—like a really sugary corn cereal that I like a lot. 8/10

Bob: I’m getting a lot of dark fruits on this—fig or date, not so much plum. It's got a really sweet, syrupy note from the rum barrels. I don't like the nose on this quite as much as the Old Hamer, but I appreciate that it doesn’t go overboard. 7.5/10

Taste

Brad: It sticks in a lot of traditional bourbon flavors. There’s caramel, vanilla, a little bit of oak. The corn pops vibe sticks around. There is some fruitiness, but not as much as I’d like. I wish the rum influence came through more—I want sugar cane, coconut, tropical. Still, it’s really good. 7.5/10

Bob: The rum finish doesn’t add a ton of complexity. It actually added herbal and spice notes that made this taste like a high-rye bourbon. It reminds me of a high-proof Ezra Brooks. It lacks the deep sweetness I expected, but it's still good. 7.5/10

Finish

Brad: It settles into oakiness. The corn is there. There’s a lot of caramel, and it finally lands on a big plum, dark fruit kind of vibe that I wish had been more present on the palate. 8/10

Bob: Fig and plum are really good notes here. There are just hints of fruit, not a lot of citrus or tartness to balance the rum sweetness. It’s good, but it misses greatness. 7.5/10

Balance

Bob: This is a really solid whiskey. I think it’s probably better balanced across the board than each individual category. 8/10

Brad: I’m with you. They’re doing nice things here. It just doesn’t go quite far enough. A few more months in the rum barrels might have helped. 8/10

Value

Brad: We’re looking at $65 for this bottle. That’s not an outrageous ask for a finished bourbon, but it’s also not a great value. Not unfairly priced, just not an over-deliverer. 7/10

Bob: This is definitely not the out-of-this-world value we got with the Old Hamer Cask Strength, but it’s not overpriced. It’s a year older and rum finished, so I’ll give it a 7/10.

Final Scores

Bob: 37.5/50

Brad: 38.5/50

Conclusion

Hugh Hamer Rum Finished is a solid, interesting bourbon that stays in its lane. While we both hoped for a bit more fruit and depth from the rum casks, the core bourbon flavors are strong, and the finish adds just enough intrigue to keep things lively.

With a combined 38/50, we give this a confident recommendation. As we always say, a score above 35/50 means it’s worth trying or buying. It’s not quite in no-brainer territory (that starts around 40), but it’s a good pour, especially if you’re curious about rum finishes or want to support a regional distillery doing thoughtful experimentation.

And let’s be honest: any whiskey we get to call "Huge Hammer" gets a few bonus points in our book.