Hampden Estate 8-Year

Perfect intro to the Hampden, with a more civilized funk but a bold, full character that bring Jamaica dunders to your nostrils and tongue. As soon as I smelled it, in 2018, I pictured myself as an anonymous protagonist in Mad Max, sniffing some gasoline and just sipping it. This wonderfully balanced rum ("easier access" compared to the overproof version) brings many images of sublime desolation, bayou and all sorts of exotic fruits rotting in a pit, in the middle of a jungle made of tar and old tires. Amazing stuff here.

Take note : the new (2020) batch is not the same at all. The packaging differs subtlely : it says "8 years" in yellow letters, below the Hampden Estae logo. So you know. More gentle, less complex, more on fruit salad and lighter style. Not as good in my opinion, even if flawless. Get a bottle from the first batch if you still can.

Honestly, I would rate this a 9 or 10 if the price was more reasonable. Where I live, this bottle is almost $70 USD and I feel like there are other rums out there that offer better value for money (Appleton 12yr for $42). However, putting the cost aside, this is probably my favorite rum I have tried from Jamaica.

Quite good but expectation was most likely too high, good honey colour, could be stronger..looking forward to compare w/ GH & Overproof 😎

Pure Jamaica rum, strong, no sugar, no collour added

My new favorite. I can drink this with just a bit of lime. I have also tried with coconut water. This rum is just perfect.

Sweet, glue, some bananas and vanilla, light alcoholic, very nice.
The taste is sweet, a little bit sharp, pepper, spicy.
A quite complex drink...

Smooth for 46% ABV, vanilla oakiness, funky, tropical fruit and grilled pineapple in the mid palate, dry but not too dry, and well balanced. This rum isn’t for the sugarbomb lover. However, it is very enjoyable and fairly priced at $40 USD. This one is good sipper. It’s a tropical island in a bottle. Enjoy.

Update:

Ive had the bottle for a week and the taste has changed. Less fruit taste, more harsh, more grassy hogo flavor. Smell is kinda like nail polish. This rum isn’t horrible but I would not buy it again

Dark glass bottle hides the golden colour. Smells are not overpowering, taste explodes in the mouth. Does not burn the throat flavour stays in the mouth.

Tasted in Drinks By The Dram - The Rum Advent Calendar (2019 Edition)

Velmi specifický jamajsky esterovy rum. Hodně puristicky, nic navíc, dojezd hodně chuťově divoký (pozitivně). Nepůsobí vbc jako 46%. Asi nechytne široké publikum, ale aspoň vyzkoušet rozhodně doporučuju. Nejzajímavější rum co sem měl.