Hampden Estate Pure Single Jamaican Rum Overproof

I'd heard of these so-called high ester rums but had no idea what to anticipate. I do enjoy smoky Islay scotch, so I wondered if this was similar. It's not, it's different, but that's perfectly fine. Poured neat, add some water because this is a potent one. A few to several drops should suffice; let's not overdo it. The aroma is... well, it's absolutely amazing. It breaks away from the standard rum profile with its wonderful esters. Yes, it's packed with glorious Jamaican hogo funk, but turned up to eleven. Imagine walking through a junkyard on a hot day. The oil-soaked earth and leaking fluids from wrecked vehicles saturate your senses. It's mostly oil, but with a burnt quality. Kind of like sitting in the back of a plane behind the engines before takeoff when the air conditioning cycles off momentarily, allowing those pungent jet fuel fumes to enter. It's only for a crisp second, and some of us actually like it. This has that and more. Lurking just beneath the greasy notes is a burst of juicy pineapple and fruity sweetness. It's tropical and intense; picture all the scorpion bowls you and your friends downed at that Chinese restaurant. The palate continues the theme with tropical notes catching up to the heavy oil and some charred barrel character joining in. It's genuinely strong and hot, with the proof assaulting you with flavors. This is definitely for experienced drinkers with fortitude for intensity and heat. The finish puts out the fire with some standard brown sugar and caramel, but the spice, petrol, and barrel notes persist well into the night. This is a unique rum bomb for a select few who will adore it. I am obviously one of them...........86/100.....If you're the type who puts your hand on your raised knee when you drink rum, stay far away from this; it will destroy you...........this seems to be getting harsher after opening, so I have to lower the score.....80/100

A top-tier rum, rivaling the Hampden "Great House Rum Distillery Edition 2020" ($90 ish) in quality. The nose on this offers a richer ester profile, though less fruity and floral than the comparison. It leans more towards caramel/molasses, while the 2020 presents an amazing aroma of crusty, freshly baked sourdough bread. The flavor profiles are quite similar. The Distillery Edition might be harsher. The standard Hampden Overproof has a subtle corn undertone akin to bourbon, whereas the Distillery Edition exhibits more of a Four Roses fruit character. Otherwise, they are remarkably alike. Both showcase a beautiful ester profile, with a foundation of brown sugar and Demerara supporting mild heat and bitterness, similar to coffee. In this regard, the Distillery Edition has a stronger coffee presence than the standard Overproof. The Great House Rum release is excellent, but this highlights the exceptional value of the Hampden Overproof, delivering 98% of the quality at two-thirds the cost.

It delivers the full Jamaican rum experience: gasoline aromas, intense funk, vegetal notes like rotten greens, and overly ripe banana, balanced by caramel and vanilla sweetness from bourbon wood aging. I've previously praised Appleton Estate Joy Blend as a top-tier brown spirit. However, this rum's profile doesn't suit my palate, and I doubt I'll drink it often, if ever. I suspect it's destined for the back of my home bar. It's still superior to the Dr. Bird Muscatel finish, which I found dreadful and suitable for a drain pour, unless I can mix it with enough pineapple/coconut juice from Costco to make a very budget Pina Colada.

Exceptional. I typically avoid Jamaican pot still because I'm not fond of many Jamaican funk flavors. I had the opportunity to try this bottle from a friend. I enjoyed it enough to purchase one myself. I'm pleased I did. Once I settled in with it and had a chance to explore, it offered an even better experience. Quite deep and dark in flavor. Nice layers and complexity. A huge, rich sweetness right at the start and a finish that lasts a considerable time. It gets progressively better with each sip. Properly aged for eight years, it drinks more like 105 to 110 proof rather than 120. I'm not sure why it has five dollar signs next to it; I paid $72 after tax for my bottle.

Amber color. Strong aromas of over-ripe banana and blackstrap molasses, with banana nut bread, dark caramel, ripe mango, faint menthol, and iodine. The palate has more banana nut bread, blackstrap molasses, mild iodine, dark fruits, and oak, with a faint hint of malted barley. The finish is long, warm, and dry, dominated by the blackstrap molasses, with lingering notes of iodine, muscadine grapes, faint saltwater, and cigar ash. The more I sip this, the more I detect the white grape note on the finish, to the point where you might think it was finished in wine casks. This is beautiful.

It smells like banana and molasses, with a funk that borders on the industrial. The flavor is rich and fruity, with some funk, maple, a slightly vegetal character, and a hint of iodine, perhaps even a touch of dark fruit. It's almost as good as Great House but costs much less. Sadly, this expression has been discontinued for a 4-year aged single-marque (labeled "HLCF Classic"), so I purchased a backup. Grab it while you can.