Overview
Brand: Hampden Estate
Origin: Hampden Estate, Wakefield, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica
Still: Pot
Age: 15 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 50%
Hampden Estate has been slowly adding products to their lineup the past few years, including Pagos, the Eight Marks 2 year set, and special releases like The Maverick, to name a few. Their latest edition is also notable as it is their oldest rum under their own label to date.
Hampden Estate 15 year is– like all Hampden rums– pot distilled from a base of molasses, and was produced at the distillery in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, in 2010. This is significant as it is among the first batches of rum that Hampden started to age on-site. Previously, the 2010 LROK 11 year release was the oldest bottling of Hampden rum, also of the same vintage as Hampden 15.
Fermentation for the rum in this blend yielded a product that has 200-400 g/hLAA in esters, corresponding to the LROK marque. The distillate was aged for 15 years in ex-Bourbon casks at origin, before being blended and bottled at a very exciting 50% ABV.
I received this sample as part of a bottle share organized by a fellow rum enthusiast.
Appearance
Dark orange-brown, low viscosity
Nose
Rotting green grapes, overripe banana, butterscotch, grilled peaches, pineapple, jackfruit, lemon peel
Palate
Smarties candy, grilled pineapple, overripe banana, fresh lemon, starfruit, fig bar
Finish
Long, warm, gentle; grilled tropical fruits (pineapple, peach), sour grapes, oak, overripe banana, jackfruit
Rating: 9/10
Summary
This 15 year treatment of Hampden is phenomenal. It has everything I like about the distiller's rum, but a little more mature and composed. The aging tempers the complexity and fruit funk of the underlying distillate, but acts in a refining and focusing role, instead of removing it.
Unsurprisingly, rotting or overripe treatments of tropical fruits abound; the addition of grilled peaches and lemon pair well with the usual pineapple, banana, and starfruit notes. I get a burst of slightly ethereal Smarties on the palate, the rush of aforementioned fruits, and then a bit of a fig bar. Every part of this pour, from the nose thru the finish, is complex but approachable.
I'll tip my hat to the Hampden Estate team for another excellent product launch, and would love to shake the hand of the person responsible for bringing this to us at 50% ABV, as I think it works perfectly. While the bottle itself may be a bit cost-prohibitive for most, I hope those interested can find a way to at least try a pour of this remarkable rum.