Hampden Estate 8-Year

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.

this is a great wild rum. i like the fruit and the low sweetness. definitely not for everyone.

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.

Great nose somewhat unique but familiar at the same time. Have had something similar before. Not a super smooth sipper but great lingering flavor with medium alcohol burn on the finish. Something unique for the collection hard to find in US.

Sampled at a Rogue Rum Club tasting 5/25/22. Aroma is very funky- lots of Jamaican funk. Palate is metallic. Chocolate, nuttiness, spicey. Very good, but somehow all these flavors don't come together. Did not live up to the hype.

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.

This is a real nice rum, maybe not my favorite but definitely a good choice.

it's got a nice nose, something sweet and earthy like brown sugar sweet potatoes. but not cloying. some nice barrel and molasses spice too. it's just the right amount of sweet on the tongue, is very smooth (almost wish it were maybe a little higher proof) but still has a nice tingle on the tongue. finishes nice too. pleasant lingering after taste. i would buy this bottle for home or for a friend who is a rum connoisseur to try something new. this bottle makes me want to try the overproof variation to get some of that burn this lacks.

Copper in color
With fruity, almond and spicy nose.
On the palate little sweet followed with quick and surprisingly intense whiskey flavors.
Taste clearly stronger than the declared 46%

Strong alcohol taste not recommended to girls. Kind of strong after first tasting, but we could get used to it.