Hampden Estate 8-Year

I found this one from Hampden to be a little harsh… very spicy. If it the only Hampden available to you, still try it! It is very funky, and a great pot still rum. But this goes down like Hampden Overproof. Their LROK 5 has a fuller flavor profile if you can find it. Still great though!

It seems to my taste that 8 years is a level of aging where Jamaican rums start to lean away from their fruity and funky vibrancy and more towards coffee and oak flavors I associate with whiskeys, or perhaps Bajan rums. This is a pleasant sipper, but comes into its own with a splash of Demerara syrup and some bitters, as the flavors I tend to seek in a Hampden aren't most present in this bottling (The 5-year LROK is my sweet spot). Still, it is the bottle that is most widely available as a non-limited release in my neck of the woods, so it is a continuous presence on my shelf.

i don't have much to add to the reviews below, it is probably a love it - hate it rum, and i must say i do like it. Although it smells pretty weird in the beginning, if you let it rest for a while it becomes better. The taste is rich, fruity and sweet. Finish is lasting.

chutnal..............................................ANO

It is a solid rum with a stronger taste but I much prefer the 5 year old Lrok

Tastes sort of like a blend between agricole (grassy tones) and whisky. It has quite a bite as well, at least it does not have weird chemical flavor. 4/10
EDIT: So in recent months after tasting a lot of whiskies I came around to this style of rum, funky but interesting, just add tablespoon or two of water.

Got my hands on the standard range of Hampden. I prefer the more explosive high ester stuff because of the pineaple flavor.

This one gives you an idea of ​​what Hampden is but it keeps its high ester secret.
You get some esters there is no question about that. What you also get is the malt in the finish, it's sometimes missing in the DOKs because of the overhelmed pineapple flavor.
It's spicy like all Hampdens. It starts a little bit thin and with a sour note, then apples, citrus and some honey. There is also some vanilla and malt. The middle is more intensive and spicy, I get apples, some pineapple, spice, some tannins and honey. The finish is also spicy, citrus, pear/apple, honey, malt.

I would rate it higher, but it should be a little bit more complex and I would prefer more ester, it's not fruity enough for me, I'm missing the pineapple. I think the overproof version is better. It's not funky enough to be a great Hampden, but it's still good for the price.
I would rate it with 79 points.

Smell: light sweetness, some vanilla, fermented citrus and tropical fruits, grapes, ester, some caramel, apples
Taste: some sour notes, apple, vanilla, some malt
Middle: sour apple, some melon, spice, citrus, some tannins (wood), apples
Finish: middle long, dry, spicy with citrus, apple/pear, honey and malt

Sweetness: 1.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Fruits: 3/5
Mildness: 3/5
Intensity: 3.5/5
Value (50€): 2.5/5

Experiment: I added 1/4 of Kill Devil H Hampden. The blend became much more frutier, the pinapple from Kill Devil just exploaded. I wonder why they have't added just a hint of high ester Hampden to the blend.

Hate the label. The rum smells like a barn at first sniff. Tastes like a barn at every turn and sip. Plenty of burn but no ethanol flavor. This is funky! Based on memory, this is a bit like Smith & Cross (but lower abv). Interesting but a bit challenging.

Over-ripe tropical fruit on the nose. Bitter palette followed by long caramel finish

This rum has a very strong character and flavour. It has a lot of over-ripe fruit notes but also lots of petrol/oil characteristics so it won't be to everyone's taste. I actually prefer drinking this in a cocktail like a Mai Tai rather than on its own because it blends well with other flavours.