Hampden Estate 8-Year

If this cost $20 a bottle, I would just call it a bad rum. At $70 a bottle, it's a scam. I think there's an emperor's new clothes effect here. People spent a lot of money on this bottle and don't want to admit that it's sub-well trash.

Tastes and smells like nail polish remover. Barely mixable. It's put me off from trying other Hampden rums.

Helles Bernstein im Glas.
In der Nase kräftig und frisch. Leichte fragile Düfte balancieren geschickt über den tiefen Abgrund der dunklen Seite. Banane, Mango, Ananas, Litschi, Melone, Gräser und Blumen stehen dunkler Schokolade in schwerem Ledermantel und Zigarre gegenüber. Ein leichter Funk liegt in der Luft.
Am Gaumen tief und fruchtig. Frisch gepflückte überreife tropische Früchte verrotten langsam in einem tiefen dunklen Fass. Karamell und rote Beeren werden dazugegeben und mit edlen Gewürzen verfeinert.
Im Abgang lecker und langanhaltend. Früchte und Karamell gehen ein wenig spazieren, Holz und Beeren diskutieren noch länger.
Ein toller Rum der seine unverfälschte Kraft zeigt. Für Jamaika Liebhaber, Entdecker und Geniesser. Ist im Vergleich zum 5 Jährigen viel multidimensionaler.
G+R F LU22

Light amber in the glass.
Powerful and fresh on the nose. Light fragile scents balance skillfully over the deep abyss of the dark side. Banana, mango, pineapple, lychee, melon, grasses and flowers are juxtaposed with dark chocolate in a heavy leather coat and cigar. There is a slight funk in the air.
Deep and fruity on the palate. Freshly picked overripe tropical fruit slowly rots in a deep dark barrel. Caramel and red berries are added and refined with noble spices.
Delicious and long-lasting on the finish. Fruits and caramel walk a little, wood and berries discuss even longer.
A great rum that shows its unadulterated power. For Jamaica lovers, explorers and connoisseurs. Is much more multidimensional compared to the 5 year old.
G+R F LU22

This rum hits the nose hard with Jamaican funk. The taste however, takes one by surprise. It is surprisingly subtle and easy to drink. It does have a rather whisky-like finish, but holds more character than most with that profile. Definitely one I can recommend trying.

This rum from Hampden is full of flavors of molasses, leather, tobacco, wood, old paper, and some great funk. I love this rum sipped neat or with a splash of water. Very very good Jamaican aged rum.

If you've never had a Jamaican rum before, you might want to try a cheaper option first, as they have a very distinct flavor. If you like those funky notes, you'll love this.

Lots of banana and acetone on the nose. Lots of the same when tasting as well. Very sippable though. Doesn't last overly long on the pallet.

I'm already familiar with Appleton, my second step on Jamaican terroir is to try the famous Hampden.

The nose is complex and intense. The initial sensations of sourness, grass and wet tropical wood, gradually become accompanied by overripe fruits. The aroma then becomes industrial with hints of metal and stein, to let the fruity notes come back in the sour version after a while. This time I was able to distinguish kiwi, citrus and pineapple. Eventually, after 15 minutes the smell got milder and sweet, with nail polish remover, dust, malt and molasses.

The dominating taste is extremely dry spicy pepper. Minor industrial and sour fruity notes hide in the background. The taste is fast gone, leaving one with a completely dry mouth.

The hype for Hampden is huge, especially among the experienced drinkers. For me it was just strange. Nice, but not hypnotizing aromas and quite flat taste with almost nonexistent aftertaste. I'm still not sure what the terms "funk" and "hogo" mean, though I hoped to discover it during this tasting.

Bought the bottle today. Better not tell the wife. But, hey, I’m retired. Not an expensive buy, but not an everyday tipple on my budget either. I paid at $55.

Bottle: love the hefty bottle. Great label with a bunch of info. I love to read the labels.

Color: gold
Notes: opened the bottle and hit the hobo, smelt the funk. This is the real deal. Esthers walked with me and the glass through the house.

Palate: bold, dry, funky. Can’t wait to find the real rum lovers among friends.

Finish: what can I say? More than the 46% abv suggests, but satisfying nonetheless.

Worthy of the rum collection, for sure.

Split my sides! This rum be funkin' amazing! She smells sweet and funky and a little fruity. It be hard to find some of the more traditional rum smells, but they be there - IF you be brave enough to stick around! As for flavor, she be both packed and loaded. Aye, she be sweet, but not too much, with fruitiness, and hint of vanilla, and unless I am mistook, cinnamon. Aye, the funk be there for sure, but there also be a hint of things that taste the way other things smell... like leather shoes, and sweat, and shame... all forgivable in comparison! I found this rum to be beyond smooth, but just when the gettin' was gettin' good, my tongue vanished! The barkeep assured me it were still in place, and the attention I got from the ladies who offered to help me find it more than made up for it disappearin' on me, but still... Havin' had several funky over-proofed rums before, this one be the best so far! Gut me for a preacher if I be lyin'! arrgh!

Love the honesty of the rum. I acquired a bottle knowing it would be a hit or miss. Shared with friends who thought it was interestingly good. I get the funk and the subtle notes but wish the other notes were stronger or changed from start to finish. This rum is a muffled explosion. I know they are not the same. But something like Clarin’s Le Rocher excites with a series of notes from beginning to end.