Hampden Estate 2017 HLCF Classic Overproof

Ester aroma with glimps of the tropical fruit, strong start burning, then gentle intermezzo with touch of tropical food. Smoked and oak end.

Acetone, licorice and tropical fruit in nose, rather smooth and dry, turn quickly to smoke and oak tones followed by a very long tail. The alcohol burn is very pleasant for 4 years old rum.

Esters in the air, strong, sweet but musty smell of rotten tropical fruits. Feels sweeter at start but gets drier and spicier with long, deep finish. Feels well balanced, well made and complex. Hampden, you truly are a superstars of funk, along with Mhoba. Each rum so different and only tasty, tastier or the tastiest. So far (11/2022) also still cheaper than most of my 10/10 rated rums. I must admit Hampden distillery is masterclass of hi-ester "subgenre". One of the top 5 rums I've had so far (one of which happened to be another Hampden rum as well). The product is just awesome: ester happy, flavorful, distinguishable (typical distillary handrwiring), not sweetened but yet naturally semi-sweet, strong - full body.

Sladké tóny vůně.
Intenzivní a štiplavá chuť.
Dlouhý, výrazný závěr.

I've had this bottle a while now, and it's still two thirds full. I seem to pour a shot now and again, and try and work it out all over again, but not pour myself another.
Smell has that burnt car tyre mix of volatiles from the Rum Fire this started out as. The banana only really comes in with the taste along with the typical Hampden flavours hiding under the most pronounced burn, the burnt tyres, and an oily-ness, all moving into a long finish.
It's definitely distinctive, but I can't help feeling that it would have been better with another 4 years in cask. It just tastes young, still very spirit forward, and that really holds it back as a sipper.
Having had a sample of the 2021 Great House recently, I know that Hampden can do amazing things with relatively young rums, but it also seems they believe that they can get away with charging whatever they like for them too.
Can't rate it lower than a 7 because it's just too interesting, but can't rate it higher because it's too young and too hot. It's also too expensive for what it is.