Hampden Estate 8-Year

To all reviewers that gave this rum less than a 6, please give it a try and let it rest in your glass. If you do drink it right after you have poured it your nose will be overwhelmed by all those esters and you'll only experience solvent, and that is why I think you rate low this rum, and it is also the reason I couldn't rate this more than 8. If you do wait though you'll experience a true Jamaican rum, no sugar at all, nothing added, rum as it was made centuries ago. You can smell a lot of flowers and molasses, in your mouth you have a kick because of the 46 abv, it may be a little rough, not a smooth one, but this is not the rum you want to drink if you want to chill, this is the bottle you grab when you want something different, something stronger that kicks your senses. Long and persistent finish of molasses. A must try, just remember to take your time.

it's got a nice nose, something sweet and earthy like brown sugar sweet potatoes. but not cloying. some nice barrel and molasses spice too. it's just the right amount of sweet on the tongue, is very smooth (almost wish it were maybe a little higher proof) but still has a nice tingle on the tongue. finishes nice too. pleasant lingering after taste. i would buy this bottle for home or for a friend who is a rum connoisseur to try something new. this bottle makes me want to try the overproof variation to get some of that burn this lacks.

I got the opportunity to attend a rum tasting with Daniele Biondi from Velier were we tasted 9 different rums. This was the second rum of the night, that we tasted side-by-side with its overproof brother. While not overly funky, this was still a rum, that gave a taste of what Jamaica can.

Nose: Banana, pineapple, oak and some mineral notes combined with toasted nuts
Taste: Pineapple, spices, tar, citrus zest and a mineral aftertaste that lingers for some time
Overall: While this is not a big "funk"-bomb it still have some clear notes of Jamaica. It is a great rum for all, but could especially be the next stepping stone for people getting into Jamaican rum after starting out with something like Appleton 12.

Un rhum d'excellente qualité, dont l'étiquette joue la transparence totale...
Les rhums jamaïcains ne laissent en général pas indifférents, surtout les "high esters" dont celui-ci fait partie: soit on adore, soit on déteste. Personnellement, j'adhère!!!

Au nez, on retrouve des notes phénoliques très marquées (limite une odeur de vernis!) ainsi que des fruits exotiques (très) mûrs (provenant du fameux dunder utilisé pour booster la fermentation probablement).
En bouche c'est corsé : les notes décelées au nez se confirment et explosent au palais!
La finale est assez longue, les arômes restent bien en bouche...

Un rhum jamaïcain typique et de qualité , mais pas forcément accessible à tout le monde...
Les débutants ou amateurs de rhums plus doux risquent d'être rebutés par les saveurs puissantes et surprenantes de cette bouteille.
Pour découvrir l'univers des rhums jamaïcains, mieux vaut peut être commencer par un Appleton estate 12 ans par exemple, dans lequel on retrouve aussi les saveurs si typiques à ce terroir, mais qui se montre beaucoup plus accessible et facile à boire!

Frän sträv i smaken och en eftersmak av whiskey. Inte alls i min smak

notes of banana, mango, coconut, passion fruit, peach, caramel, chocolate, a little agave, and pepper.

On the nose, it has strong oak, toast, pineapple and fried banana. Very unmistakably Jamaican.

The palate hits you with grassier notes very unexpected for me at least. Without being an expert I’d say it must have had cane juice or some cane residues in the mash, giving associations to grassy rhum agricole. Banana, pineapple, coconut, dates and tobacco take over, however.

The aftertaste also starts with notes of grass and oak, but is soon overtaken with caramel, vanilla and fried banana. A bit short for a full score but a very, very good product.

All in all, this is not for everyone. A touch of added sweetness is taboo with Velier, which probably leave some people unconvinced about the qualities of this rum. That is sad, because in my view you can always add a few drops of water or even Demerara syrup if it is required in order to enjoy a dry rum, but you can’t take it back once it’s there.

EDIT: This bottle really grows on me. I add an extra point as of March 2020.

This rum surprised me when I tried it the first time. Tons of banana flambee, overripe pineapple, coconut, persimmon even, hints of rubber and petrol fumes on the nose. Interesting combination, and I suppose not for everyone.

Bit of a burn and drying on the palate, with some grassy notes on the finish.

Dark amber color in the glass. A scent of ripe fruits and fresh spices. Taste ripe fruits, banana, pineapple, cocus, but also nuts, leather and leaves. A very good rum

Typical jamaican style with petrol and exotic fruits like pineapple and banana. Creamy body with strong finish.

Definitly a must have for a pirat !