Hampden Estate The Younger LROK 5 Year

Review by: The Auditor

Review #1170; Rum #485

This is a rum produced by Hampden Estate and bottled under their Hampden brand as part of their agreement with La Maison & Velier. This bottling is distilled from molasses on a pot still and put into ex-bourbon casks for ageing. LROK stands for Light Rum Owen Kelly and has an ester concentration between 200-400 g/hLPA. It is aged for 5 years in Jamaica before being bottled with no additives.

Distillery: Hampden Estate

Bottler: La Maison & Velier

Region: Jamaica

Still: Pot

Cask: Ex-Bourbon 5 Years in Jamaica

ABV: 47%

Nose: Touch of pineapple bark, vanilla, bit of glue

Palate:  Medium mouthfeel, Touch of pineapple, Vanilla, Glue, black pepper, umami

Finish:  Medium length finish, Pineapple, Vanilla, Glue, Black Pepper, touch of umami

Conclusion: Here we have a very good rum from Hampden. It hits those classic fruity slightly gluey notes you expect from aged LROK offerings. Though we have gotten a lot of this style of release in the US (Stolen Overproof for example), it is a workhorse kind of aged rum.

Final Score: 85

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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