Rum Artesanal 1989 HD Jamaica 30-Year

Rum Artesanal HD 1989 Cask No 211

It was almost impossible to get a bottle. Most of them were sold underhanded before the release. Even the shop owners offered these at significantly higher prices under the counter. I suspect that many were also held back in order to sell them later for a much higher profit. With the price increases, even the shop owners fall into a frenzy of speculation.
I managed to get some bottles on the second market. Rumauctioneer prices were still fair the flippers didn't make a lot of profit.

Nose: Extreme ester impact that reminds me of the CDI DOK or a Kill Devil 2007. Very sweet nose, lots of glue, fried pineapple with slightly dirty barrel flavors greets me. I can still perceive something soft like vanilla, as if fried pineapple juice was poured over pudding. The acid can only be found in the background and is fortunately not very present.
Barrel wood is still very easy to perceive.
The nose is typically, very fruity and here also very sweet. The barrel flavors still offer a little variety.
TRC30, on the other hand, has a more subtle and balanced nose. For friends of high esters, the choice is clear.

Taste: sweet start with glue and a lot of fried pineapple. The sharpness increases, the acidity increases, some malt comes up, the pineapple explodes and extends into the aftertaste. The acidity is present from the middle, some wood is added and light barrel aromas. Slight bitterness, hardly noticeable in the fruity explosion.
The finish is sharp, the pineapple dominates, malt is also still there. The whole thing tingles on the tongue.

Aftertaste: pineapple, malt, apple

Conclusion: Yes, this is a very good Hampden, the best I had so far. It has everything that high ester lovers want. The TRC30, on the other hand, is very well balanced between the pineapple aromas and the malt. Acts a little light or a little thin against the RA. A good rum, however, in terms of price beyond good and bad.
I think the hype about Hampden is now exaggerated. The bottling was in high demand after the sale - I would expect 50% of the bottles that were actually regularly sold through the shops.

Overall rating: 96 points

Sweetness: 2.5 / 5
Fruit: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
PL 500 €: 4/5

Al naso è molto pungente e intenso con note di solvente/resina polimerica e agrumi.
Al gusto è corposo e meno pungente che al naso, con sentori di arrostito, solvente, frutta tropicale fermentata, funky e una piccola nota dolce; finale lunghissimo pepato, agrumato e leggermente tostato/arrostito(porchetta). Nel bicchiere vuoto sempre arrostito, esteri e formaggio stagionato.
Non sono un fan dei Giamaicani, ma è davvero una bomba