Velier Hampden Specially Bottled for Whisky Live Paris 2023 HLCF

Calendrier de l’Avent Rum Friendly Club, jour 6. Un nez d’esters, de fruits tropicaux (ananas) et de fruits jaunes. Des esters et du bois maîtrisés, un léger vernis, un côté fermenté et une large variété de fruits complexifient ce beau nez de type jamaïcain. Une première bouche vive avec fruits, esters et alcool mais tout s’équilibre ensuite avec un bois de cèdre soutenu qui se prolonge longtemps en finale. Un côté pâtissier très agréable. Tout à la fin les fruits restent encore plus longtemps. Un beau rhum incroyablement complexe pour don âge.

Standard Hampden. Mature, round, balanced.

Still quite young and wild. But the sherry cask adds a nice twist.

RumX-Adventskalender 18.12.2023 Blind tasting: Hmm, when I opened the sample I first thought of Guadeloupe because of the sweetness. But then on the palate the esters came through quite clearly, although not bitingly. So I would guess a low ester Hampden. All right, now it was an HLCF. Does that still count as a low ester? 😉

Delicious and quite remarkable for only three years in the barrel, the wood is already quite noticeable here - but overall too close to many other Hampdens despite the undisputed high quality.

Rum X Advent 18.12.2023 Extremely tasty on the one hand. Sweet, syrupy and long finish is fun. In the mouth, Hampden and sugar sweetness like candy. But for me, the two poles in the mouth don't fit together harmoniously enough and seem more like two products. I could imagine that this rum would be a total hit if it had been matured for even longer.

I like it very much despite its young age. I don't find the sherry influence too dominant, on the contrary, the typical Hampden markers can be found both on the nose and on the palate. ABV well integrated.

Edit: RumX calendar day 18 and not recognized after 2 days of tasting. Am I bad Franconian Tasting Gang Another Hampden with the usual finish, of which there are now plenty on the market. Does not stand out from the other bottlings.

Sherry influence not as dominant as I feared, but for me this was the last sherry cask finish or aged Jamaica rum for the time being... Still seems quite immature and unbalanced overall. Alcohol could be better integrated...

I am amazed that such an aroma can develop at such a young age. I tasted it with other but older Hampdens. It stands out a little due to its spiciness. Nevertheless, a great sipper that is fun.

#4325 21.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023

Beautiful sherry maturation and better than Pagos, FRC & Co. but for me, for example, a far cry from the Hampden Rare Casks of the last WLP. I don't think I need any more short-matured sherry Jamaicans.

A fairly young Hampden with a sherry finish....that unfortunately doesn't convince me. Initially, the nose still has classic Hampden notes, but the sherry influence comes through here too. On the palate it is quite creamy and also intense... the alcohol is not very well integrated. The typical markers are also present here and, surprisingly, the wood influence is already quite clear! The finish is of medium length. Longer ageing would probably have done it good...so it remains one Hampden among many

A clearly identifiable Hampden. The sherry is very present. Both very typical. Definitely good, but nothing extraordinary. And personally, I'm just not the biggest fan of (sherry) finishes.

#24DaysOfRum2023 - Day 18 On the nose a wonderfully rich combination of fruits, esters and active cask. It starts in true HLCF fashion with soured pineapple juice, hints of plantain and an abundance of berries, red and black. Then waves of cask spice before it sails into uncharted waters with really strong espresso, walnut (incl. skins), hot glue and clingwrap. More streamlined HD, more emboldened sherry in the mouth. Still very fruity, but the medicinal notes are tuned down in favour of even more prominent cask influence. Nuts have strong-armed the lighter sweets into nougat and, in combination with the strong espresso, have tipped the sweet-sour balance over to sweet-bitter. Ginger is introduced in the tail ensuring a lasting finish. The finish is slightly spicy and therefore driven into a lengthy experience: bitter, dry and rich in tropical and red fruits. It’s a very good expression, and I enjoyed it very much, but I’m unsure about the price point with the existence of Pagos in the same space.