Impressions (Collection New Vibrations) C<>H

#4328 21.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023

Excellent 1990 Hampden!

Goûté au Whisky Live Paris le nez est magnifique et donne envie de le boire directement. Au nez on sent les esters et un mélange de fruits tropicaux comme l'ananas, la mangue et la banane. Le nez évolue en laissant le rhum dans le verre plus de 20 minutes pour devenir encore plus fruité. La bouche, très bien équilibrée offre un mélange de fruits tropicaux et quelques notes d'agrumes. La finale est très longue et laisse un agréable goût de fruits tropicaux comme l'ananas et la mangue. Le plus gros bémol pour moi est son prix beaucoup trop cher comparé à d'autres 1990 tout aussi bon.

WL 24 - My favorite of the event

Super 1990 Hampden, great balance between fruit, esters & alcohol. Great release!

Whisky Live Paris 2024 (Messebewertung, nur Gesamtnote und persönliche Kaufempfehlung): Schön, dass ich den dort probieren durfte. An der Nase mega-gut, mit Popcorn, Marzipan. Ananas. Am Gaumen sehr fruchtig, sauer, insgesamt lecker aber weniger komplex als die Nase erwarten lässt. Abgang auch leider etwas zu kurz. Zu teuer für das was dee Rum geschmacklich bietet. Ich muss keine Flasche davon haben.

A rum tasted at WLP. And tasted again 20 months later. A powerful nose that remains balanced, pastry-like and makes you want to go on. The palate starts out very well, but retracts rather quickly, the aromas narrow, become acqueous and the finish is logically disappointing, short and not very sapid.

A Hampden that raises expectations and at the same time appeals to me through the beauty of its bottle: could it be the beautiful decanter syndrome? Sadly, yes. The Hampden nose is particularly pastry-like and greedy. You get the impression of tropical fruit and citrus compote or a kind of marmalade, which is rather pleasant to the nostrils. The funky side comes gradually and alternates esters, solvents, glue and varnish. A nice Hampden in prospect. The attack on the palate, however, is more reserved. The pastry and mellowness dominate, overtaking the fruit and medicinal flavors, which are less lively than usual. Roundness prevails over intensity, making for a rather linear, unspectacular rum. The alcohol is very well integrated. The finish is not only weak, but also of questionable length: the flavors in the mouth struggle to linger, apart from those pastry notes that have completely tamed the rum. Without being bad, this Hampden is far from spectacular. Unfortunately, the result does not live up to expectations: there is nothing to justify a cuvée at this price when other bottlers offer the same Vintage for two or three times less...