Habitation Velier 2010 Hampden LROK 6-Year

The first sip burns a bit but it smoothens in the end.
Oak, molasses spice, cinamon, smoke, funk, floral, exotic fruits, dark berries, wood, sugarcane... Almost everything I like in a rum! :)

67% is really strong, especially on the nose. My personal advice is to let it rest a bit, then go at it slowly, giving your mouth some time. Strong molasses in the end, coffee and tobacco and exotic fruit.

Vet inte om det blir så mycket bättre än såhär. Banan och gummi. Söt och svårt att fatta 67% när den går ner så lätt och lent.

Today I have a 6y old LROK in the glas. I already tasted LFCH, HGML, C<>H, <>H and some DOKs.
I'm curious what LROK can offer.

The nose is strong with a bite. I get the pineapples from the high ester smell first. The nose is fruity and also sour. A typical Hampden nose. After some time in the glas the apples are rising.
Around the fruits is also some solvent, some oak and grasy notes with fresh bananas.

The taste starts with pineapple and glue, then I get a bitter note from tannins. It's like a typical high ester Hampden. Then the taste turns very sour, acid is rising on the palet with some solvent.
In the middle the taste became more saturated, I get honey, again the acid with solvent, then papaya and apples.
The finish starts with spice and pineapple, I get hints of white oak and some grasy notes. Not much malt in the aftertaste, because the esters are more present.
The aftertaste is with pineapples, apples and malt. Thats tasty.

Overall a good high ester Hampden. I would prefer more malt in the taste and less acid. Therefore 87 points.

Nose: acid, apples ***, pineapple**, white oak, some glue or solvent, banana**, grasy note, papaya*
Taste: pineapple, glue, some tannins, acid, acid, acid, solvent
Middle: honey, acid, solvent, papaya, apples
Finish: spice, pineapple, white oak, grasy note
Aftertaste: pineapple, apple, some malt

Sweetness: 2/5
Fruits: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5
Mildness: 3/5
Complexity: 4/5
Value (110€): 3.5/5
Experience level: expert

At 67° it is maybe not intended to be sipped straigh... with some drops of water it reveals all the usual Hampden flavours = ananas, olive, dry wood, earth... Not as extreme and maybe not as excellent as the HLCF of the same bottlings but still very good. If you like this style only.

Beautiful golden color going towards bronze. On the nose, this rum delivers notes of exotic fruits like ananas, the ripe banana typical of Jamaica. It is very floral, vegetal, very elegant. I also detect Sarawak pepper. On the palate, it is very floral, always on the exotic fruits going towards the spices. The final is on the banana. Very beautiful Hampden. But my favorite is the HLCF

Like its bigger brother, the HLCF, it first shows hints of superglue, paint and varnish. Let it breathe for a few minutes! You will discover pears and and other dried fruits, reminding you for a moment of southern Germany fruit brandies. Once the smoky oak arrives at the roof of your mouth, you'll be reminded that you're having a Jamaican Rum. I tried it in Mai Tai, but be carefull what other rum you use for it might very easi dominate it. The LROK asks for a equivalent Partner. If you like to sip it pure, take your time. A great and rare rum to enjoy!

This is pure fruit and burnt rubber. Missing the rest of the complexity of hampden blends, but still pretty delicious. Wouldn't buy for the price though.

This HV absolutely fits for purpose from my point of view, Comparable with GH but stronger on the tongue, it makes me blowed up from my pants 😎

Compared to the HLCF, this one is not as good. Still great.