Hampden Estate 8 Year Pure Single Jamaican Rum

Aroma: Bananas, mint, and chalk first. Overall effect is medicinal and very funky. It's actually really hard to describe and I'm not gonna do it justice. Other fruits come later, then some brown sugar and cola. It's also herbal and grassy with some bitter tea-like characteristics. Then there's something like chilled vegetables in the aroma - really stretching to describe this. It's odd, funky, not really engaging, but not so off-putting as to turn you off completely. Palate: Sweet, but not fruity. Tannic and bitter. Minty, herbal, and medicinal. Spicy and woody bite on the finish, and it builds nicely over time. There's not a lot in terms of flavor, just a lot of feel. Flavors really stay in the aroma. This is reminds me of like a super funky white wine. Thinking of a really bitter and vegetal Sancerre I had once, for example. It's nice as a true curveball (or knuckleball, really), but it's hard to consider trying this again. Someone out there will super love it, but that's not me. I've actually enjoyed this bottle for being so different, but don't think I'll do it again.

The aroma is ripe banana, pineapple, and funk, with some sweetened car exhaust and green apple notes. I'm just describing what I smell. It's a bit harder to get flavors from it. Yes, there's the funk. A quick sip does give a bourbon taste and smell in the retro-hale. Holding it longer, however, just results in an alcohol burn, but also pineapple. The aftertaste has a faint caramel and funk. Funk is present throughout. Missing information: Aged in ex-Bourbon casks. Rating is based on neat sipping.

The nose offers fruity notes with a touch of brown sugar. It's noticeably less funky than other Hampden rums due to its lower ester marque, yet it remains quite robust compared to most molasses rums. On the palate, I detect some brown sugar, banana, and a hint of cream. A solid, standard bottling and a good introduction to Hampden.

This is a unique rum that lives up to the hype. The nose is very light despite the full-bodied flavor. The finish is particularly spectacular, with strong notes of cinnamon and caramelized banana. It's funky and smooth. I'd recommend letting the bottle air out for a few days after opening to let the flavors settle. Recommended.

The aroma is incredibly rich with vanilla, oak, and banana. The palate immediately hits like fresh charred bourbon, but as it develops, the funk starts to emerge. The finish is like bananas foster crème brûlée with more funk revealing itself. It's one of a kind.

Aroma: lots of fruit, cream, vanilla and floral notes that are very reminiscent of a cognac Palate: quick pivot from the aroma with some spice, caramel, and licorice Finish: short finish with the licorice and spice hanging around