Review by: The Auditor

Review #1432; Rum #731

This bottle of rum from Hampden Estate is the distillery’s oldest expression to date. This rum was distilled from molasses on a copper pot still in 2010 after fermenting wildly with cane vinegar, dunder, and muck. Put into an ex-bourbon barrel it aged for 15 years at origin in Jamaica before being bottled at a high proof with no additives. This rum is of the LROK marque and comes in at 200-400 g/HLAP.

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Distillery: Hampden Estate

Bottler: Hampden Estate

Region: Jamaica

Still: Pot

ABV: 50%

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Nose: Over-Ripe Pineapple, Passionfruit, Vanilla Bean, Lemon Curd, Orange Zest, Soy Sauce, touch of glue, Toasted Peanuts

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Soy, Lemon Curd, Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Nutmeg, Allspice, motor oil, Toasted Peanuts, Over-Ripe Banana, Passionfruit

Finish:   Long Finish, Dark Chocolate, Nutmeg, Lemon Curd, Vanilla Bean, Soy, touch of plastic, motor oil, Toasted Peanuts, Passionfruit

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I certainly did not know what to expect with this rum, but it just blew me away. Upon pouring it fills the room with its aroma, tropical fruits, a bit of industrial chemicals, dark chocolate, coffee. But the dominant notes are those tropical fruits. The palate is very complex, the flavors balance well against each other too. The finish lasts forever and is filled with those rich tropical fruits and savory notes. This really blew me away and I can only hope to get to drink more of this rum in the future.

Final Score: 96

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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.