CoR Hampden Jamaica Ed. 17 DOK

 The cask definitely did quite some work here. On the nose I get a lot of wood and bourbon vanilla alongside roasted nuts. For a DOK nose, this is remarkably balanced and „round“. No questions asked: there is still plenty of funk with solvent notes and rich tropical fruits. Wood, chocolate and a lot of vanilla on the palate with plenty of power. Again there are tropical fruits, some funk and chemical notes. Yet this is all very much tamed by a lot of bourbon cask notes and not quite the „hammer“ I’m used to from other DOK bottlings. Looking at this bottling versus the DOK rare cask (RX13401), I can only reiterate how much work the cask has done here. Compared to the (older) RC bottling, the cask influence - vanilla in particular- has taken over too much to let the DOK funk fully shine. While you can find some DOK markers as said above, the balance in the RC is way better delivering a more complex profile with much more emphasis on rich fruits and spices. That being said, I still think this is a nice bottling and very enjoyable. It just doesn’t hit the DOK characteristics very much anymore.

 Auch wenn die Rums im gnz hohem Esterbereich nicht mehr ganz mein Beuteschema sind, gefällt mir dieser DOK doch ganz gut. Die tropische Reifung hat ihn angenehm rund geschliffen. Tropische Frucht, geröstete Nüsse, Vanille, Holz, Bourbon und Gewürze mit Lösungsmittel. Die Ester schön zurückhaltend.

 Surprisingly round for a DOK. Already has a lot of wood in it. Marzipan, caramel, some fruit, some bitterness, acidity. A very good rum, nicely balanced, but for me a DOK has to have more power and fruit.

 On the nose: Bourbon vanilla forward. Barrel influence. Round and balanced. For a high abv and DOK, its quite mild. Not a typical Jamaican rum. Taste: Alcoholic on the front due the high abv. Barrel influence is quite strong. On you work around it, I get vanilla and spices. Ester is surprisingly mild. Finish: Woodyness and bourbon. Quite dry. Ok, This is a rum with heavy barrell influence. Not a ester bomb and doesnt offer typical flavours that you find on Jamaican rums. Its a good rum, but not for me, i want that funk, high esters and more punchy flavours in my rum

 Great DOK from Hampden, really balanced and not so funky with some drop of water. For my taste, one of the best Hampden i've tried so far. Very enjoyable

 Very enjoyable, balanced Hampden DOK. Quite funky on the nose but not overwhelming, also some vanilla, wood due to the cask aging. On the palate mostly tropical fruits and solvents. Can take a few drops of water.

 Bourbon vanilla in the nose. Some DOK funk as well but not that much. Taste lots of fruit but alcohol could be better integrated. Maybe could use some water? Overall missing some DOK funk in this one.

 23-05-2025 What a Hampden DOK. 8 years in tropic. Definitely a bottle for the shelf