Yessss Hampden! The hidden king. What's amazing is that this bottling is made from the lowest-ester recipe in the Hampden stable, and it's still a beast. Next on your list, if you dare, should be the humble Rum Fire (which *still* isn't anywhere near the top of the marque list but stands a few steps closer to the almighty DOK). Be careful about Smith & Cross, by the way - there's a misconception that it's all Hampden-sourced, which it isn't. Fabulous budget mixer, but actual unblended Hampden stock just murders it.
👑 🇯🇲 I must admit I started to have doubts about whether I should have bought this one while I was waiting for delivery because it's a 'low ester' Hampden. Those fears went straight out the window when I tried it though! I'm looking forward to trying some of the even funkier Hampdens. Thanks for the warning about Smith and Cross. Cheers Scott 🥃
Great point about the abv's on Rum. I'm a Scotch guy who is newly exploring Rum as a "malternative" (the Rafly-ism, of course). For my first Rum purchase, this past Sunday I bought a bottle of Foursquare 12yo 2010, bottled at 60%. It's an absolutely dazzling dram. But (much like Uigeadail, I think) the flavors absolutely refuse to march noseward in an orderly, linear queue.
Try some of the Haitian rums. Clairin: tasting notes like rotten bananas, mustardseed and the like. Really, really funlky estery rums. Awesome stuff imho.
Couldn't agree more! I've actually reviewed Clairin Communal and Vaval 2020 and I have at least one bottle from each of the available Haitian distilleries. Spirit of the highest calibre 🥃
i got the Hampden 8 CS for around 65€. Def worth a buy, very rich and heavy esther notes. spiced up another rum with it, with just a few drops. You could also try Worthy Park, less Esther notes and amazing rum. Other than that, try some Rhums, ones, some just faintly have the rum note anymore, since the french oak is so dominant (as a french oak lover i enjoy it^^). Also: Clairin Sajous, unaged Haitian Pot Still Rhum. its so weird, rhum (sugar cane) note meets olives, flowers and tomato. weird, needs some air to round up but worth it (got it for 30€)
Tomato has to be one of the strangest tasting notes in spirits but yes I've experienced it too. That's when you know you're into the real interesting stuff 🙂 I am very interested to see what flavours you get from some of the extreme high ester Hampdens. I think I shall go for something like that for my next rum purchase. Interesting that you mention Clairin. Next week's review is a Clairin and I must admit that I love the stuff. In a way it's even more unusual than Hampden and equally beautiful.
Hampden 8 was my best bottle outside of whisky last year. In fairness, it may have been best bottle period. There is something about it which reminds me of armagnac. Good to see you reviewing it. I also like Wray. If you haven’t, try Smith & Cross. It’s funky, sweeter than hamp and quite cinnamon forward. Also, Hampen 8 makes a stunning old fashioned if you dare “disrespect” it 😅
Praise indeed! I can understand why and why so many people love this. That's the third recommendation I've had for Smith & Cross. I shall have to seek some out! Cheers 🥃
That Hampden was a journey! I think it has a higher age stated one as well but damn was this good! I was used to Dominican rums, very sweet and caramalised but this funky one really opened my eyes to the massive world of rum. Cheers dude!
Hampden is certainly never dull 🙂 yeah there seems to be a million and one variations of it too. I'm looking forward to trying more. Especially the super high ester stuff I probably came to rum from the opposite direction as you. Being more used to navy style rums. Generally darker and heavier. But like your Dominican rums, not complex and funky like Hampden. It's an eye opener 👍 Cheers 🥃
I'm just going through some old reviews and can't believe I didn't respond to this. Well. the Hampden cat is out of the bag now. We all know that they're all good stuff. Lower ester with Hampden is Octomore peat level stuff. I can't think of a single whisky that introduces us to its range at such a high level and the best stuff is off the scale without costing so. Extremely powerful distillery character which shines through no matter what age or cask. Oddly enough, even the unaged, unoaked Rum Fire, has a massive, but unique, character and it's still cheaper than Clairin and Mezcal. All I can say is buy Hampden; any of them. It's the safest, price/quality, bet you can make in the spirits world. Hunt for the hidden away but really great independents too. WT
Hampden (including the Rum Fire that you mention) is indeed superb. Many other distilleries around the world could learn a thing or two from them. Here's hoping for good availability and pricing for the future. Cheers 🥃
To be fair I get that ripe-fruit-peels-in-a-bin-on-a-summer's-day note on some scotches, not naming any names. Makes me wonder if it's like sulphur, and only some people can detect it, because I never see anyone complain about it. As for rum, Jamaican seems like a good place to go because they do not add sweeteners. I have tried a craft Welsh rum at a food fair and it's like they are going more for a sweet liqeur, and even mention adding molasses after the fact as a selling point
I know what you mean. I think one of the truly great things about Scotch (and other distilled malted barley spirit) is that it has such a wide array of potential flavours and nuance. Malted barley is such a transmutable grain and can be coerced into a million other flavours if you know what you're doing. To the extent where this fairly modern fad of slapping cask finishes on everything is really missing the point! Lazy! There could certainly be an element of personal sensitivity too. We all tend to notice things that we either love or hate to varying degrees without being right or wrong. Isn't critical tasting fun? 😉 A lot of 'UK' rum is really sourced or blended at best. Similar to how people buy in finished spirit and botanicals to 'make' their own gin. And a lot of rum is heavily flavoured and sweetened filth as well 😉 I'm optimistic for The Cotswolds Distillery though. I visited them recently and they're in the process of releasing rum that they distill on site from molasses. I believe they intend to use their original small pot stills that they recently replaced with a pair of 10,000 litre monsters. Intriguing!
@@WhiskyLock re malted barley: makes me curious to try newmake, which I've not even done at a distillery (only been given it to smell). I know Cotswolds and Highland Park sell bottles of it
@@raeraeraeth Ah New Make! Some of it can be fantastic. Some of it can be awful (but still make great whisky!). Definitely try it when you can though. Tiny sips and the high strength won't hurt you. It's very different to white rum or vodka because of the malted barley. Cotswolds White Pheasant (their New Make) is very good. You only get a 50cL bottle but it's 100% worth a try! I wish all distilleries gave us the option.
Great tasting notes… rotting fruit, congealed blood😅 There is a snack called Corn Nuts which are roasted corn kernels which a friend of mine hated because the taste reminded him of congealed 🩸 blood. I enjoy Corn buts albeit tooth breakers. But seriously…good review and relatable tasting notes. Cheers 🥃
Aren't those flavours that everyone wants in their drink? 😅 Funny how a flavour can trigger a memory or association in some people that's a total deal breaker. Like with your friend. I'm told that in Vietnamese cooking, some dishes use cubes of congealed pig blood. They put it in soup. Sadly (gladly?) I can't confirm whether it tastes anything like this rum or Corn Nuts! Cheers John 🥃
haha you guys are nuts. I once took a 4 bottles of the same type of win but costs ranged from $5.00 to $100.00 a bottle. We did tastes tests and had them line them up in order what they thought they cost. Most of the the people that thought they knew wine well got the order backwards and people that new very little about wines had to order correct. Was pretty funny and embarrassing for some. I was entertained :) Rum is the same way. Sure the rot gut rums will taste pretty terrible metallic vs rums that are a little better but soon there is plateau a point of diminishing returns. I could put $80.00 label on a cheaper Appleton estates and a $5.00 label on say expensive Dimera rum and many people will say the cheap one is better just because I put a $80.00 price tag on it.
Price is a sore point for many at the moment. Especially with Scotch and Bourbon where a lot of us are finding that things that used to be affordable are being raised above what we see as value for money. Regarding what you're saying: I think there are great value products at the low price points in most spirits (I'm not a wine drinker really). Example: I've been drinking a Woods Navy Rum recently that I bought for £20 and it's great if you like that style. And I do. Phenomenal value. Nobody is going to confuse it in a blind tasting with a high ester craft rum or a 20yo Scotch though. There are certain flavours which you can't get from the budget bottom shelf. Are they all great in different ways? Absolutely. And it should be acknowledged that good things can be had without overspending. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock That said I have Hamden 8 on order at two different places Its not common on the shelves and maybe 1 of 10 people working in spirit stores even heard of it unless they were into tiki at some point.
Can’t deal with the rum- but I admire your ability to expand your perimeter. I suggest a Hawaiian shirt or Rasta stuff for your next video. The Brit cap/turtleneck don’t help the rum mood. Just a Yank’s point of view. ❤
An acquired taste perhaps 😉 but it makes sense for rum to have those hot fermenting sugar notes seeing as it starts off as a big 'bin' of sugar cane which is often outside in a very hot climate 🤔
Yessss Hampden! The hidden king. What's amazing is that this bottling is made from the lowest-ester recipe in the Hampden stable, and it's still a beast. Next on your list, if you dare, should be the humble Rum Fire (which *still* isn't anywhere near the top of the marque list but stands a few steps closer to the almighty DOK).
Be careful about Smith & Cross, by the way - there's a misconception that it's all Hampden-sourced, which it isn't. Fabulous budget mixer, but actual unblended Hampden stock just murders it.
👑 🇯🇲 I must admit I started to have doubts about whether I should have bought this one while I was waiting for delivery because it's a 'low ester' Hampden. Those fears went straight out the window when I tried it though! I'm looking forward to trying some of the even funkier Hampdens. Thanks for the warning about Smith and Cross. Cheers Scott 🥃
Great point about the abv's on Rum. I'm a Scotch guy who is newly exploring Rum as a "malternative" (the Rafly-ism, of course). For my first Rum purchase, this past Sunday I bought a bottle of Foursquare 12yo 2010, bottled at 60%. It's an absolutely dazzling dram. But (much like Uigeadail, I think) the flavors absolutely refuse to march noseward in an orderly, linear queue.
That's a hell of a first rum! Congrats 🙂 Rum is certainly very different to Scotch and takes some re-learning at times 🥃
Enjoyed this review. I respect your opinion very much. Thank you.
Thank you John 🥃🇯🇲
Try some of the Haitian rums. Clairin: tasting notes like rotten bananas, mustardseed and the like. Really, really funlky estery rums. Awesome stuff imho.
Couldn't agree more! I've actually reviewed Clairin Communal and Vaval 2020 and I have at least one bottle from each of the available Haitian distilleries. Spirit of the highest calibre 🥃
Great review. Love the pverproof version!
I haven't had the overproof but I can imagine it being great based on this👍Cheers!
i got the Hampden 8 CS for around 65€. Def worth a buy, very rich and heavy esther notes. spiced up another rum with it, with just a few drops. You could also try Worthy Park, less Esther notes and amazing rum. Other than that, try some Rhums, ones, some just faintly have the rum note anymore, since the french oak is so dominant (as a french oak lover i enjoy it^^). Also: Clairin Sajous, unaged Haitian Pot Still Rhum. its so weird, rhum (sugar cane) note meets olives, flowers and tomato. weird, needs some air to round up but worth it (got it for 30€)
Tomato has to be one of the strangest tasting notes in spirits but yes I've experienced it too. That's when you know you're into the real interesting stuff 🙂
I am very interested to see what flavours you get from some of the extreme high ester Hampdens. I think I shall go for something like that for my next rum purchase.
Interesting that you mention Clairin. Next week's review is a Clairin and I must admit that I love the stuff. In a way it's even more unusual than Hampden and equally beautiful.
Hampden 8 was my best bottle outside of whisky last year. In fairness, it may have been best bottle period. There is something about it which reminds me of armagnac. Good to see you reviewing it. I also like Wray. If you haven’t, try Smith & Cross. It’s funky, sweeter than hamp and quite cinnamon forward.
Also, Hampen 8 makes a stunning old fashioned if you dare “disrespect” it 😅
Praise indeed! I can understand why and why so many people love this.
That's the third recommendation I've had for Smith & Cross. I shall have to seek some out! Cheers 🥃
That Hampden was a journey! I think it has a higher age stated one as well but damn was this good! I was used to Dominican rums, very sweet and caramalised but this funky one really opened my eyes to the massive world of rum. Cheers dude!
Hampden is certainly never dull 🙂 yeah there seems to be a million and one variations of it too. I'm looking forward to trying more. Especially the super high ester stuff
I probably came to rum from the opposite direction as you. Being more used to navy style rums. Generally darker and heavier. But like your Dominican rums, not complex and funky like Hampden. It's an eye opener 👍 Cheers 🥃
I'm just going through some old reviews and can't believe I didn't respond to this. Well. the Hampden cat is out of the bag now. We all know that they're all good stuff. Lower ester with Hampden is Octomore peat level stuff. I can't think of a single whisky that introduces us to its range at such a high level and the best stuff is off the scale without costing so. Extremely powerful distillery character which shines through no matter what age or cask. Oddly enough, even the unaged, unoaked Rum Fire, has a massive, but unique, character and it's still cheaper than Clairin and Mezcal. All I can say is buy Hampden; any of them. It's the safest, price/quality, bet you can make in the spirits world. Hunt for the hidden away but really great independents too. WT
Hampden (including the Rum Fire that you mention) is indeed superb. Many other distilleries around the world could learn a thing or two from them. Here's hoping for good availability and pricing for the future. Cheers 🥃
To be fair I get that ripe-fruit-peels-in-a-bin-on-a-summer's-day note on some scotches, not naming any names. Makes me wonder if it's like sulphur, and only some people can detect it, because I never see anyone complain about it.
As for rum, Jamaican seems like a good place to go because they do not add sweeteners. I have tried a craft Welsh rum at a food fair and it's like they are going more for a sweet liqeur, and even mention adding molasses after the fact as a selling point
I know what you mean. I think one of the truly great things about Scotch (and other distilled malted barley spirit) is that it has such a wide array of potential flavours and nuance. Malted barley is such a transmutable grain and can be coerced into a million other flavours if you know what you're doing. To the extent where this fairly modern fad of slapping cask finishes on everything is really missing the point! Lazy!
There could certainly be an element of personal sensitivity too. We all tend to notice things that we either love or hate to varying degrees without being right or wrong. Isn't critical tasting fun? 😉
A lot of 'UK' rum is really sourced or blended at best. Similar to how people buy in finished spirit and botanicals to 'make' their own gin. And a lot of rum is heavily flavoured and sweetened filth as well 😉 I'm optimistic for The Cotswolds Distillery though. I visited them recently and they're in the process of releasing rum that they distill on site from molasses. I believe they intend to use their original small pot stills that they recently replaced with a pair of 10,000 litre monsters. Intriguing!
@@WhiskyLock re malted barley: makes me curious to try newmake, which I've not even done at a distillery (only been given it to smell). I know Cotswolds and Highland Park sell bottles of it
@@raeraeraeth Ah New Make! Some of it can be fantastic. Some of it can be awful (but still make great whisky!). Definitely try it when you can though. Tiny sips and the high strength won't hurt you. It's very different to white rum or vodka because of the malted barley.
Cotswolds White Pheasant (their New Make) is very good. You only get a 50cL bottle but it's 100% worth a try! I wish all distilleries gave us the option.
For me if you want a budget cask strength version of this go for smith and cross.
That's not the first recommendation for Smith and Cross. I haven't had it but I'll add it to the list. Cheers! 🥃
Had this one last year in Jamaica. I did like it. Nice review. Guayana rum for me is great Cheers mate
Nice! Straight from the source 🇯🇲
I think I've only had Guyanan rum in Navy style blends. Do you have any recommendations for Guyana? Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock I always buy El Dorado 21.
Have it .
Love it.
Great Stuff.
Nothing to add.
Greet from Germany 😎🤘
Great stuff indeed 😎🇯🇲 Cheers 🥃
My favourite rhum ever!
You Sir, have good taste 😎
It's very, very good. I like the overproof even more but that is the same stuff just higher strength. Costs more though.
Great tasting notes… rotting fruit, congealed blood😅
There is a snack called Corn Nuts which are roasted corn kernels which a friend of mine hated because the taste reminded him of congealed 🩸 blood.
I enjoy Corn buts albeit tooth breakers.
But seriously…good review and relatable tasting notes.
Cheers 🥃
Aren't those flavours that everyone wants in their drink? 😅
Funny how a flavour can trigger a memory or association in some people that's a total deal breaker. Like with your friend.
I'm told that in Vietnamese cooking, some dishes use cubes of congealed pig blood. They put it in soup. Sadly (gladly?) I can't confirm whether it tastes anything like this rum or Corn Nuts!
Cheers John 🥃
haha you guys are nuts. I once took a 4 bottles of the same type of win but costs ranged from $5.00 to $100.00 a bottle. We did tastes tests and had them line them up in order what they thought they cost. Most of the the people that thought they knew wine well got the order backwards and people that new very little about wines had to order correct. Was pretty funny and embarrassing for some. I was entertained :)
Rum is the same way. Sure the rot gut rums will taste pretty terrible metallic vs rums that are a little better but soon there is plateau a point of diminishing returns. I could put $80.00 label on a cheaper Appleton estates and a $5.00 label on say expensive Dimera rum and many people will say the cheap one is better just because I put a $80.00 price tag on it.
Price is a sore point for many at the moment. Especially with Scotch and Bourbon where a lot of us are finding that things that used to be affordable are being raised above what we see as value for money.
Regarding what you're saying: I think there are great value products at the low price points in most spirits (I'm not a wine drinker really). Example: I've been drinking a Woods Navy Rum recently that I bought for £20 and it's great if you like that style. And I do. Phenomenal value. Nobody is going to confuse it in a blind tasting with a high ester craft rum or a 20yo Scotch though. There are certain flavours which you can't get from the budget bottom shelf.
Are they all great in different ways? Absolutely. And it should be acknowledged that good things can be had without overspending. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock That said I have Hamden 8 on order at two different places Its not common on the shelves and maybe 1 of 10 people working in spirit stores even heard of it unless they were into tiki at some point.
Can’t deal with the rum- but I admire your ability to expand your perimeter. I suggest a Hawaiian shirt or Rasta stuff for your next video. The Brit cap/turtleneck don’t help the rum mood. Just a Yank’s point of view.
❤
Hawaiian shirt! That's genius. I need to get one. Cheers 🥃
Hi Hilary, I'm a whisky nut but these rums that Lock is reviewing should tempt you into a try. It's very interesting. WT
Rotten fruits in a bin on a hot day, 😂 getting a bottle tomorrow
An acquired taste perhaps 😉 but it makes sense for rum to have those hot fermenting sugar notes seeing as it starts off as a big 'bin' of sugar cane which is often outside in a very hot climate 🤔
🙂🥃👍🏻