Habitation Velier Hampden HLCF

 It was my introduction to tropical fruit ester bombs and I absolutely loved it at first sip. Actually, even at the first breath, because as soon as you open the bottle, the bouquet inevitably makes its way into the entire room. Unimaginably high quality for the issue price and, even from today's perspective, proof of what Hampden is capable of. Exceptionally good.

 Once rested this is a lovely rum. Intense from nose to finish. Fruity with nice chemical notes and a long warm finish. My favourite of the day 😊

 Update 02/2023.tasting against Rare Cask HLCF

 Top Hampden.

 This is true love💖 🥃😋 Owning this bottle makes me so happy. I have a hard time grasping how to to find a better rum from any other than Hampden. Yes, the C<>H is better but this is really close. - had to taste this rum too today as I just got the new HLCF Classic and this rum is still on a totally different level. just love it 😍😋 - Another year since last tasting and this is just fantastic. 😍😍

 Horny tropical ripeness. Powerful, intense, complex, overripe fruit basket, vanilla, raspberry. Hampden in its purest form.

 Very cool HLCF ... from memory also better than the Rare Cask. Grilled pineapple, almond/marzipan, wood, spices and a nice dark sweetness with a wonderful mouthfeel. HLCF is not the greatest brand, but this rum is delicious.

 Lightly sweet hampden? I like it! ... Hampden, legendarni jamajska destilerka, ktera krome rumu produkuje take alkohol do parfemu. Ve vsech rumech z teto destilerky ucitite divoke estery, po kterych cely vas organizmus nasakne vuni zluteho tropickeho ovoce - manga, papaji, anansu, broskvi. Jeden z rumu, ktere "must try before die"

 A formidable rum of complexity for its young age. We find in the nose the classic notes of the Jamaican funk with the very ripe tropical fruits, the citrus fruits, the phenolic notes with the esters, the solvents and the glue, but also woody and spicy notes which decorate the whole. In mouth, it is a real festival of fruits so much they invest the palate. Then come the phenolic notes, the floral notes then the spices and the wood. It is a real aromatic concentrate, with an extreme degree and surprisingly round, soft and complex. The finish is very long and persistent with a very subtle saline touch that gives depth to the mouth. A heavy rum, intense and of a rare elegance.

 Glue and alcohol on the first nose, then the other flavors emerge. Lactic, varnish, blood orange and other citrus fruits. A slightly bumpy start to the palate, then everything calms down and falls into place. Lots of fruit, and the lactic on the nose has turned into raclette cheese. The finish is long on a sort of sour milk candy and oil. Varied and surprising aromas, not to say jarring, and yet I really like this singular rum.

 In der Nase kommt er zwar kräftig aber noch vergleichsweise mild daher. Im Geschmack entfaltet sich dann die volle Esterbombe der man leider auch den Alkohol durchaus anmerkt. Neben den intensiven tropischen Fruchtnoten auch etwas Himbeere und im Abgang auch angenehme Holznoten. Für 90 und mehr Punkte fehlt eine bessere Integration des Alkohol was bei der kurzen Lagerung natürlich schwierig ist. Krass geiler Mai Tai Rum.

 A direct comparison of the HLCF from Habitation Velier and from the Rare Cask series, both from 2010. The different maturation times are recognizable. For me, however, the Habitation Velier is clearly ahead. But you can't go wrong with either of them.

 And finally, the Hampden from Habitation Velier. Is it really that good? Yes, it definitely is :) Great Jamaican, outstanding aromas on the nose and palate. Esters, tropical fruits like banana and pineapple. Also some glue. Extremely good.

 HLCF 2010 HV vs. Rare Cask: HV is more vibrant and intense, while the RC clearly shows the longer maturation. The RC comes with more sweetness on the nose and more wood influence on the palate, As this also somewhat tames the funkiness, on the first go the HV is slightly ahead in my book.

 It's quite exceptional on the nose as well as on the palate. 💣🇯🇲💥 I'm coming back to it after a few years and frankly even though my experience with jams has improved I'm still as impressed by the balance of both the nose and the palate. When well aerated at the end of the bottle, it's a delight.