Famille Ricci Hampden Zodiac 2023 Scorpion <>H 2014

Very nice continental Hampden. The alcohol is very well integrated. Slightly creamy mouthfeel. The tropical fruits come through very well. Not too much acidity. Some vanilla and marzipan.

Tasted fresh from the bottle while sampling. From the first impression, it can already do a lot. Despite the high ABV, I find the alcohol extremely well integrated. Very balanced for me. It would have been nice if I had had it a few days earlier during crosstasting. But on its own, it's a real competitor to the Nobilis No.14, which I would also rank ahead of the WuDram and CoR from memory. But right now it's really picking me up.

The quintessence of a good Hampden. Very straightforward and elegant. Has everything I want from a Hampden and is still outrageously drinkable.

Outstanding High-Ester Hampden!

Side-by-side of ten recent-ish 2014 <>H bottlings: On the nose the bottlings are pretty much on a comparable level. RumClub and Family Ricci take the crown today, showing a bit more fruitiness relatively speaking. Overall the bottlings with some reduction provide noticably less intensity. I prefer the higher/full proof bottlings here. Again, on the palate the factor to set the different bottlings apart comes down to fruitiness and alcohol integration. Among the lower ABV bottlings the V&M Star(h)um takes the crown with TWJ coming in second. The difference in ABV is even more pronounced on the palate with the full proof version clearly ahead. Overall winner here is the RumClub, followed by Family RIcci again. Most balanced with lots of funk yet also a good amount of cask impact and good alcohol integration. All in all non of the bottlings is bad in any way. There are only minute differences in the bottlings and the winner might change on another day. I‘m very curious to see how the vintage will develop over time - assuming we‘ll see some more bottlings in the coming years.

It was a real stroke of luck to get this Hampden on sale below retail price. All the markers are there; alcohol and esters are perfectly integrated despite the high intensity. Although I am often skeptical about Riccis, this one can easily keep up with similar Velier and Nobilis bottlings.

Funky, pleasant nose: mixture of tropical fruits and glue/ester that naturally takes over, wood and marzipan Palate: again, this blatant mixture with dominant glue, the tropical fruits, vanilla, cashew nuts and marzipan, maybe even some strawberry, alcohol strong but well integrated

The first impression is that the alcool is too pungent, both on the nose and the palate. It's a pity because behind that there is a lot going on. Esters, of course, but also the usual load of tropical fruits and caramelized ananas. But also a tad of smoke, and some vanilla. On the palate, again caramel and tropical fruits.

... Hampden, the legendary Jamaican distillery that produces rum as well as alcohol for perfume. In all the rums from this distillery you will taste wild esters, after which your whole organism will soak up the smell of golden tropical fruits - mango, papaya, pineapple, peach. One of the "must try before you die" rums

26-07-2024 Part of bilnd tasting. All guests it was Hampden. But what a Hampden. Very well integrated although the young age. Mark and ABV mixes very nice. Would like to retaste 😉

Everything you'd expect from a High-ester and more.... A magnificent Hampden