The Whisky Jury Hampden Jamaica Rum HD 1990

The balance was incredible. One of the best things (maybe the best one) in my glass during Salon du Rhum 2023. For me it’s hard to do better than this at this moment in my rum journey. 05/11/24: Tasting it again after quite some time, from a sample. For me it’s candied pineapple all the way, reminding me of the Rang pineapple cube candies when I was a kid... I’m not getting the whisky finish described by others, really weird 🤷‍♂️ Still a very good Hampden in my book. 15/12/24: Comparing it to RX14100 I finally getting the whisky vibe described by others. However I’m not bothered by it.

This is the worse Hampden I ever tried and I had so many , 32yo and it’s horrible , had it once and wasn’t convinced and again 6 months later and still not , very sad for such a huge fan as me. I only hope I got the wrong bottle somehow…had few friends who had it and we were all agreed.

Little 1990 C<>H cross-tasting with 2x RA, RC Ed. 5, TWJ and TRC. Off to a good start with high intensity on the nose and palate delivering on all the good stuff the vintage has to offer. Nice. Then there comes the twist. I honestly couldn’t believe my taste buds at first - but there definitely is some whisky (lightly peated notes as well) on the finish. This is not extremely overwhelming, but, as a non-whisky enthusiast, I don‘t really enjoy this twist… this would have been a perfectly fine (even great imo) bottling without adding the whisky finish/maturation (?). So this is clearly in the last place for me.

I can't understand the good reviews. A typically good Hampden on the nose and initially on the palate, but a peaty whisky note develops on the finish, which I don't like at all. Did it have a whisky finish? A real shame!

Rum Artesanal: Wow, everything you love about hampden or Jamaica rum in an absolutely intense, creamy and complex style. This is an absolute masterpiece. You shouldn't expect an astringent Jamaican funk here... Very pleasant on the palate, you might want to preserve it for hours. Whisky Jury: Rather spicier on the nose and more complex overall. Definitely the winner for me in this category. On the palate and in the finish, it clearly lags behind its rival. Much wilder and more astringent, but less complex. Two totally outstanding rums that both have their raison d'être and are not in direct competition for me after tasting. The RA and incredibly complex, creamy, intense on the palate without becoming astringent. The Whisky Jury is much wilder, more astringent and yet complex, but is nowhere near the fruity pleasantness of the RA.

Hm, for me it's over the top, even though it has some great notes to offer. The nose is good, it's great on the palate, but unfortunately it falls away in the finish. I find it particularly earthy and estery, with tropical fruits and a pleasant sweetness on the palate. I would have liked it better with a different finish, but I only find it good as it is. 78/100 or 5/10

Great nose with lots of freshness of ripe tropical and citrus fruits as well as sugary pastries and meringue. On the palate, the notes remain, but are flanked by a very present earthy note that reaches into the herbaceous and smoky. For me, this is somewhat disturbing, especially in comparison to other 1990 Hampdens, which are admittedly at an unusually high level.

Peaty watery Hampden. This combination is weired. ... Hampden, legendarni jamajska destilerka, ktera krome rumu produkuje take alkohol do parfemu. Ve vsech rumech z teto destilerky ucitite divoke estery, po kterych cely vas organizmus nasakne vuni zluteho tropickeho ovoce - manga, papaji, anansu, broskvi. Jeden z rumu, ktere "must try before die"

Today 3x 1990 C<>H with the TRC Platzhirsch against the TWJ and the CoR. On the nose, the TWJ is quite smoky, the TRC is incredibly balanced (also with a cake note), the CoR a little fresher, more citrus and clotted cream. On the palate, the TWJ is even smokier than on the nose (it must have spent some time in a peated whisky cask). The TRC and CoR are much more balanced and quite close together.

This rum is not my cup of tea. I admire people who give a grade above 9.

Browsing a bit through the ratings upfront this one seems to be divided on a love it or hate it basis. And I love it a lot. Looking at the label this seems to be a C<>H and at 32 years of age a senior one. Still it reeks of ester on a juvenile level. It is fruity, some spices and the great funkiness you would expect. In addition there are nice herbal and earthy notes, almost smoky. The idea of an (short) Islay cask finish is not completely bogus but I doubt it. Overall there is almost no wood, which is a surprise at this age and especially with the stated STR. But let’s cut this one short, it is a really great Hampden, aged really well and one should try this, if ever possible. And I am out, enjoying the rest of my glass / bottle.

Another very nice Hampden. The vibrant nose you would expect from a Hampden - bursting with esters, overripe fruits like pineapple and banana. Balanced with wood, hints of leather and vanilla. On the palate it comes with a nice, reasonable burst of intensity up front with a little bitterness. Then it settles into the esters and fruit, wood, smoke and leather in waves while being very suave.

Tasted at SDR’24 The nose opens with inviting aromas of light sugars, whipped cream and fruity components such as red berries, black banana and pineapple juice gone sour, solidly embedded in complex layers of spice, smoke and medicinality. It’s clearly old, very old, with notes of leather jacket, gardening soil, pinetree resin and perhaps a hint of balsamic. Incredibly multifaceted on the palate with fruits, spices and herbs neatly tied in with a stable constant of woody riches. First, in true C<>H fashion, red fruits, sour pineapple juice, oily citrus zest and over-steeped herbal tea. Then it evolves and becomes more challenging, quite salty, with glue gun, camphor and -again- incense sticks. The mouthfeel is interestingly slightly thicker than expected, like overly milky cappuccino. Ends extremely long in herbal black tea and allspice, countered with whipped cream, crème brulee and dried fruits. It’s lightly smoked with notes of burning plastic and crushed mint.

Lovely mix of fruity and dirty notes. The empy glass smells amazing!