Review by: The Auditor

Review #1129; Rum #448

This sample was provided to me by a producer, distributor, or some other industry source free-of-charge. No compensation, outside of the sample, was received and there were no strings attached.

This rum was distilled at the Hampden Estate distillery. It comes from a collaboration with Bodegas Lustau in Jerez. After being distilled, the rum was put into Pedro Ximenez & Oloroso Sherry Butts for ageing in Jamaica. The rum was aged in the Jamaica at Hampden before being bottled with no additives.

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Distillery: Hampden Estate

Bottler: Hampden Estate

Region: Jamaica

Still: Pot Still

ABV: 52%

Cask: Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt

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Nose: Raspberry, Figs, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Over-Ripe Banana, Grapefruit

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Raspberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Over-Ripe banana, black pepper

Finish: Medium length finish, Raspberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Banana, Plums

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Conclusion: This is great. The dark fruit flavors meld well with the base distillate, but the rum helps keep them from overpowering. Far from a bomb of intense over-ripe fruits this is a well balanced and delicious sipping rum that weds the Sherry casks and fruity distillate well. This is not something I expected to hold up as well as it did but it turned out great.

Final Score: 88

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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.