Hampden Estate 9 Year (2011) LFCH Endemic Bird Series Aficionados Selection

Review #1052; Rum #380

Here we have a sample of a single cask of rum that was bottled for The Aficionados group. These folks are a collection of spirits enthusiast who have bottled Brandy, Rum, Agave, and Scotch Spirits. This was a single cask from Hampden Estate in Jamaica and I was eager to secure a sample to try it, especially given the fact it was the one marque from Hampden I had not had yet. Let’s see how this lower ester offering from them holds up.

Distillery: Hampden Estate

Bottler: Hampden

Region: Jamaica

Still: Pot Still

ABV: 60.6%.

Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon, 9 Years In Jamaica

Marque: LFCH (90-120 gr/hLAA)

Nose: Candied Orange Peel, Grilled Pineapple, Passionfruit, Guava, faint glue, Waffle Cone

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Orange Peel, Guava, Glue, Dark Chocolate

Finish: :  Medium length finish, bit of glue, orange peel, guava, lemon peel, mint, strong black tea note right on the finish

Conclusion: Though not a browbeater in the ester department by any means, this is still a technically impressive and delicious rum. This was the last marque I had to try in the Hampden lineup and it impresses me just as much any of em. This is a very fruit forward rum for me, they dominate the palate and just a touch of that typical Hampden funk sneaks in with some faint glue notes. The dark chocolate and barrel round it all out and this makes for a good rum to sip on and ponder or just enjoy with friends. Though I recognize this is a single barrel product, from Hampden Etc, being over $200 is a tough pill to swallow and I can’t say that I would buy a bottle of this. I can say that because I did not buy a bottle.

Final Score: 88

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by The Auditor

Unknown's avatar

I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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