Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023)

"The nose is stunning...1a Hampden essence! Verbena pineapple, esters, vanilla, marzipan and cookie dough... wonderful... On the palate, however, disillusionment... initially a heavy sweetness with marzipan and honey and gentle esters with pineapple. This is quickly followed by salty, peppery spices with young wood and a strong bitter note. This continues on the finish... a little longer ageing would probably have done it good"

"Tasting 16.12 Personally, I wouldn't compare it with the GH series. I find it quite unspectacular. No rough edges. Not very exciting, ergo distinctive, flavor profile. I'm glad I didn't get a bottle of it. At least the alcohol is well integrated"

"Could also be a Great House. Very round and drinkable, classic blend."

"Franconian Tasting Gang Completely undervalued for me. A super rum with its own profile. There's really no need to compare it with the Great House range. Only the price is a little too high. Which in retrospect costs it a point deduction."

"#4333 21.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023"

"Sehr schöner runder Hampden. Bin super gespannt auf den Mai Tai"

"I'm looking forward to finally trying this particular Hampden. It's apparently an older OWH married to a younger <>H, created to celebrate the wedding of Christelle Harris and Matthew Hann. On the nose, I immediately find tropical fruit, pineapple and especially kiwi, which I haven't experienced from other Hampdens before. On the palate, again kiwi and some leather, quite exciting. The taste profile is recognizably Hampden, but for my taste it differs somewhat from the Great House range. In line with the Marks, not really extreme but rather accessible, but still somewhere unique. This combination of kiwi and leather is something I've never experienced from Hampden before. In the finish, I first find kiwi again, then leather and finally a slight bitterness. My conclusion: Given the relatively small number of bottles, you may not necessarily be missing out on one of the best Hampden, but it is a very good Hampden with a very unique flavor profile. A sample is worthwhile here."

"An unusual hampden, very balanced and with few flavor peaks! Considering the reason why this bottle was made I would have expected something different! Let's say this is more of an everyday hampden!"

"I didn't find it any better than the GHs (I tried gh19-23 at the same time) ... I would rate it at the same level even if it differs slightly in style."

"WL23: generally ok release, but less special than expected. Doesn’t hold much against the GH or other special releases. Probably needed to meet a more general taste for the wedding :-) Yeah, after a second try still not convincing. Not bad, but also not great."

"Ein Hampden-Tasting, mit Great House 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 und 2023. Dazu der New Beginnings und beide Versionen des Pagos. Den New Beginnings finde ich im Vergleich zu den Great House unterbewertet. Ist ein etwas anderes Profil, in der Nase weniger Ester und dunkler. Aber trotzdem sehr lecker."

"Nose a little underwhelming. Nice depth and complexity on the palate however. Enjoyable but very much a collectors item I would guess ;)"

"Der Hochzeitsrum von Hampden lässt grüßen. Super Nase mit schönem Ester, Frucht, wenig Holz….einfach Hampden like. Auf der Zunge liegt dann ein buttriger Geschmack über den erwarteten Aromen. Gut, aber nicht unbedingt das, was ich täglich im Glas haben möchte."

"Higher 8 because it’s fun. Kiwi/pineapple comming to something leathery/ glue. Also really nice flow in taste. How the elements are changing. You can spot different steps in the mouth."

"Hned na začátku musím říci, že jsem čekal něco jiného. Ve vůni jasně identifikivatelný Hampden. Sladká esterovost je cítit hned, ale přidává se k tomu dřevitost. V chuti se k tomu ta dřevitost přidává (mladé dřevo) v té kombinaci mi to nějak nesedí. Místo sladkého esterového konce mi na patře zůstává divná dřevitá hořkost. Jsem rád že jsem ochutnal, ale lahev bych doma mít nepotřeboval."