Hampden Estate "HLCF Classic" Overproof Jamaican Rum review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- Y'all want more Hampden content, so here it is! And it's a pretty big one.
The first Hampden Overproof hit the shelves around five years ago. It was a well-aged, reasonably priced, pot-distilled Jamaican rum presented strong enough to light on fire, and it was an actual official distillery product rather than a sourced bottling, and there was a fair bit around. At the time there was nothing, nothing like it, and in some ways there still hasn't been in the interim. OG Overproof was gooood - I reviewed it years ago ( • Hampden Estate Overpro... ) and I'm still in awe of its combination of power and lean, nervous detail. Sadly, however, it was only one batch, and most of it has long since sold out.
But now there's a new Overproof. It's still 60% but it's not a blend of marques anymore - no, this one's essentially a four year old Rum Fire (as reviewed in an even earlier video at • Hampden Estate Rum Fir... ). Call it Rum Fire Evil Force, if you will. It's not in the States yet but it will be soon and, well, let's get to the headline: it's great. Stats:
- Hampden Estate "HLCF Classic" 4 Year Old Overproof Single Jamaican Rum (pot-distilled molasses at 476.9 g/hLaa esters, aged at the distillery; bottled circa 2022; 60% ABV), 90+/100
Especially on the palate this is just a powerhouse, even more so with a splash of water. HLCF, to review, is the marque just getting into "high ester" territory at Hampden, and this has spent enough time in cask to give it some impressively baijiu-like tertiary character. I still prefer the weird, edgy complexity of the old Overproof, yes, but in certain respects this is actually better, or at least more direct with what it's doing. In any case, few things this outrageous are available on the average American spirits shelf and - once again - this is supposed to be a _regular release_. If the stores can sell this for under a hundo, I can easily recommend it. If they can somehow manage $80 - well, everyone else is on notice.
Bonus: while waiting for the glass to open up, you also get to hear me justify why this channel has videos about... well, anything but Hampden. (WineLibraryTV is involved.)
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
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Besides the rum reviews, the un-polishedness, and the lack of a bunch of editing are really what I enjoy about your channel!
Aww shucks. Thanks for watching and supporting!! 😊
I love the "unpolished" style of your videos and I love the obscure stuff! Don't change anything please.
Yessir! 👍
I'm here for your knowledge and opinions, not your video editing skills... love the weird stuff!
My poor editing skills and I appreciate that!! 😅
Keep doing the weird niche stuff! I can't get these rums here in Ireland, but I love hearing about them.
You're in the UK, friend!! Check those retailers on the continent... and thanks!!
FWIW, I think your whole style/production quality just adds to the legitimacy and candor of the channel. Also, I know they're different marques, but how does this compare to Stolen OP?
Thanks! And ss I think I said somewhere else here, Stolen OP is just an impossibly good value but yeah... these are better. 😁
Gary Vee... memories... Now, as an old man, perhaps I'd find him obnoxious, as you say. But back in the day, I was mesmerized by his passion. Let's not forget: he had the knowledge, he had the fire, he had the story, he had the youth... He was a boy, but he was the man. Thanks to him I know today what is an Albariño, a Tannat or a Condrieu.
Having said that, your effort is no less monumental, and your pace of delivery is much more suitable for my old eyes and ears.
Thanks! And yes, like I said, I'm torn...
Love your content. Thank you.
Aww, thanks!!
I reviewed a bottle of HGML I got from Astor wines pretty wild stuff as well. super intense.
I think I might have a sample of that very Hugmill lying around!! Yessss more Hampden madness on TH-cam 🤝
I have a bottle of hgml patiently waiting to be opened and put on the shelf. Would be awesome to see another review! I did see Uncle Pete's. Thanks Uncle Pete!
Found your videos Googling for reviews of Privateer. Love the unedited format and niche stuff. Maybe just a new camera? Any iPhones newer than ~3-4 years are all amazing w/ video? Thanks for the great info! Looking for a bottle now!
Thanks!! Yeah, we're behind the technological curve here... 😅
Enjoying this one a lot. My other half says I smell of plantain and bubble-gum after drinking it.
As if that's a bad thing!! 😂
Diggin' your vids lately-- thanks for the deep-dive content. Have you tried the Binny's Handpicked Rolling Fork 13yo Worthy Park Weller barrel finished? I'm a Chicago Scotchman (not Scotsman) edging into Rum, but with a palate that loves to be wholloped. Of course I've already bought my obligatory bottle of Foursquare Exceptional Casks. And now I'm looking for 1 Jamaican to rule them all. Would you recommend the HLCF Classic Overproof, or maybe one of the Binny's Handpicked? -Patrick
Thanks! I haven't had the Rolling Fork in question, but knowing their house style (I did another WP 13yo here: th-cam.com/video/Xk32zgPE85o/w-d-xo.html ), and what Binny's tends to think will sell, it's going to be on the safer, woodier, more bourbon-friendly side. If you want one Jamaican to rule them all, and a good walloping, get the HLCF.
@@differentspirits4157 Groovy. Thanks!
Awesome review as always, and love hearing your explanation about trying unique spirits. That being said, are you going to try to acquire the Hampden 8 marks when it hits Chicago? I would love to see your thoughts on that taste through!
Thanks! Yes, I'm buying one. Yes, I'm absolutely dreading the 90-minute marathon that will be that review session. 😬
@@differentspirits4157 I would very much love 90 minutes of you reacting to that lineup. Is there such a thing as too much Hampden?
Keep doing your thing! How would you compare Stolen Overproof to these two?
Stolen OP is really good. _Really_ good. Not as good as these two. (That said, it's unbelievably cheap for what it is.)
You might start seeing me post a lot more unpolished videos of weird content now 😂
Ahahaha 😂
My bottle of overproof says 8 years on the label
That sounds about right? Iirc the age is somewhere in that wall of text on the label...
Will you appease your rum fans by getting the Hampden 8 Marks collection and reviewing it?
Separately, while production value and editing are always great, they're hardly necessary nor do I expect it on routine 20min+ tasting videos. But I do think some simple video thumbnails and a better mic will go a long way. Continue reviewing weird 40 year grappas, and EdVs, but don't feel like you're betraying anything by reviewing a Glenfiddich or something.
Even though wine is your day job, I'd actually love nerdy wine review videos. Or like a Medeira vs Medeira cask aged whisky type of reviews. Considering how many wine critic scores are bought and paid for to begin with, it's an acceptable conflict of interest.
The second those sets land on the shelves in Chicago I'm snagging one. 😁 And I do actually have some Glenfiddich reviews in the archives somewhere. (Wines not so much.)
New mic next year, maybe. As for thumbnails, imma be honest: I've tried editing little screenshots of myself with little text blurbs and the cringe just overwhelmed me... 😬