Velier Hampden Specially Bottled for Whisky Live Paris 2023 HLCF 2020

#4325 21.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023

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.

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.

#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.

In the aroma it's quite typical hampden, maybe a bit more technical than usual, in the taste beautifully integrated alcohol, along with a wide range of fruit flavours. Pity about the short finish. But for me a pleasant surprise!

Typischer, klassischer Hampden. Was mir jedoch besonders markant erscheint ist die fast durchgehende Mandelnote die mit ganz gut gefällt.

An excellent HLCF, despite its not very long aging it comes across as a fairly balanced and pleasant drink. The alcohol is well integrated and the hint of sherry is felt just enough, without ever being intrusive!

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.

In a blind tasting, I'd be pretty unsure that this is what Hampden smells like. The sherry cask has done a lot of work. On the palate there is quite a noticeable under-ripeness, but the sherry is very pleasantly and sweetly infused with classic Hampden notes. I'd be quite interested to see what another 3 or 4 years of aging would do to it. Edit: new sample, same rating

RX calendar day 18 I wouldn't have rated as 3 years old, nether in color or taste. I would have probably guessed around 7. The only tell is that it's not too complex and the finish is quite light. Other than that it's quite good, the esters are quite present, baked banana stands out, the nose also gives you a whiff of a wet barrel.

Very good Hampden! Slight tropical notes, marzipan, creamy, nice fruit basket, but not quite as fruity as other bottlings, even astringent. Amazing for a 3-year-old rum. But if you look at the rum objectively, it is more of a standard Hampden at a high level.

Sehr lecker Hampden, für drei Jahre sehr Erwachsen. Sherry-Einfluss erkennbar, aber nicht so dominant wie bei Pagos.

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? 😉