(Image Source: LMDW, Tasting Bros)

On the back of the exceptionally popular Jamaican funk master Hampden's Trelawny's Endemic Birds Species series in 2020, the creator of ester bombs is back with another collection of aged rums - the Rare Cask Series!

The new series is a set of five bottlings hailing from five casks distilled in 2010 and selected from some of the estate's oldest stocks. They represent three different marks - HLCF (400-600 g/hla), HGML (1,000 - 1,100 g/hla) and the DOK (1,500 - 1,600 g/hla) which is Hampden's highest ester expression that is right on the cusp of what is legally permitted. They have been matured for 12 years in Jamaica's tropical climate to create some intensely raw, authentic and complex rums.

Hampden 12 Year Old 2010 DOK No. 11

Jamaica, Molasses Rum - 63.7% ABV

Single Cask #11 - Bourbon Barrel (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW)

The Hampden DOK No. 11 contains an ester count of 1,500 - 1,600 g/hla, which is also the maximum allowed by Jamaican legislation, and is one of the rarest instance of a 12 Year Old aged DOK mark from Hampden.

"This version embodies the most extreme of what the distillery is capable of, as can be seen by the immediate notes of acetone, long-macerated fruits and flambeed banana. Yet rather than being restricted to this particularly empyreumatic opening, its palette of aromas and flavors becomes increasingly complex and remarkably fresh."

The DOK No. 11 has an outturn of 150 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Topaz.

Aroma

Full, powerful.

The very medicinal (arnica, mustard poultice), camphoric, oxidative (balsamic vinegar, acetone, macerated fruits) and spicy (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon) first nose boasts impressive fullness and depth.

Allowed to breathe, cocoa powder showers the aroma palette. Next, delicious notes of flambéed banana, prune flan and dried apricot literally surge from the glass.

Taste

Lively, vigorous.

Tracing a divinely syrupy line (cane sugar, pineapple) across the palate, the attack wavers between notes of bitter orange, iris butter, kumquat, geranium and toffee. With incredible richness, the diversity of flavours gives an idea of the mid-palate’s complexity. The vegetal (sugar cane), vanilla and liquorice end of the palate is refreshed with notes of mint, dill and lime blossom.

Finish

Long, smooth.

The very expressive start of the finish is like peeling a perfectly ripe banana. For its part, the end of the finish adds rich notes of vanilla, salted butter caramel and creamy coffee. The floral retro-nasal olfaction (lily, freesia) is also fibrous (liquorice stick) and slightly peaty.

The empty glass is saffrony, honeyed (acacia), musky and vegetal (sugar cane).

Hampden 12 Year Old 2010 HGML No. 24

Jamaica, Molasses Rum - 63.6% ABV

Single Cask #24 - Bourbon Barrel (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW)

The Hampden HGML No. 24 contains an ester count of 1,000 - 1,100 g/hla, which is also the maximum allowed by Jamaican legislation, and is one of the rarest instance of a 12 Year Old aged DOK mark from Hampden.

"This particularly luxurious bottling begins by unveiling empyreumatic, medicinal, heady and oxidative tones that are both incredibly powerful and very distinguished. Then, after setting this telluric scene, it reveals a very nuanced and delicate personality characterised by notes of fresh fig, orange, acacia honey and cocoa."

The HGML No. 24 has an outturn of 250 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Burnished gold with copper tinges.

Aroma

Full, deep.

The wonderfully oxidative first nose (beeswax, flambéed banana, roasted pineapple) is also medicinal (tiger balm, arnica), empyreumatic (petrol) and heady (lime blossom, freesia).

Allowed to breathe, 100% cocoa chocolate, a few grains of salt, candied apricot, grilled walnut and beeswax underscore the complexity of the increasingly powerful aroma palette.

Taste

Rich, silky.

Just as nuanced as the nose and magnificently delicate, the attack is characterised by notes of fresh fig, greengage plum, sweet spices (cinnamon, ginger), musk and flowering geranium.

The very aromatic mid-palate is honeyed, floral (lavender, carnation, gillyflower) and liquorice, and also reveals citrus fruit flavours (orange, mandarin). The end of the palate develops a very pleasant chocolatey bitterness.

Finish

Long, spiced.

At the start of the finish, vanilla, syrupy (cane sugar) and honeyed (acacia) flavours delicately envelop the taste buds. The particularly smooth end of the finish is powdery (cocoa), liquoricey and slightly tannic. On the retro-nasal olfaction, sugar canes release a deliciously floral and spicy (ginger) juice.

The empty glass is medicinal (ointment), camphoric and spicy (nutmeg).

Hampden 12 Year Old 2010 HLCF No. 78

Jamaica, Molasses Rum - 61.9% ABV

Single Cask #78 - Bourbon Barrel (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW)

The Hampden HLCF No. 78 contains an ester count of 500 - 700 g/hla, which is also the maximum allowed by Jamaican legislation, and is one of the rarest instance of a 12 Year Old aged DOK mark from Hampden.

"Its palette of flavors an aromas is an uninterrupted succession of herbaceous, empyreumatic, fruity, hot and heady sequences that bring it huge texture and underscore its extremely oxidative character."

The HLCF No. 78 has an outturn of 220 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Topaz.

Aroma

Deep yet ethereal.

The very finely herbaceous (lime blossom, flowering lucerne) and yet sunny (sunflower, sugar cane field) first nose is incredibly delicate. Allowed to breathe, empyreumatic notes (sleet, diesel) and fragrances of macerated fruits transcend the changing aroma palette.

Gradually, strong spices (clove, nutmeg, black pepper) and camphor appear alongside heady florals (iris, lily) and essential oils (savoury, thyme).

Taste

Rich, full-bodied.

Pairing together perfectly, flavours of warm cane sugar, peach coulis and roasted pineapple bring the attack lots of energy. Citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit), coconut and vanilla pod then refresh the palate. The end of the palate is slightly tarry.

Finish

Long, heady.

The liquorice, chocolate, vegetal (tobacco), ashy and salty start of the finish confirms the flavour palette’s empyreumatic (rubber) and mineral (schist) development. The end of the palate is floral (geranium), exotic (banana) and fibrous (gentian, ginseng).

The retro-nasal olfaction and empty glass reveal fragrances of dried flowers, very ripe mango and toffee.

Hampden 12 Year Old 2010 HLCF No. 79

Jamaica, Molasses Rum - 62.8% ABV

Single Cask #79 - Bourbon Barrel (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW)

The Hampden HLCF No. 79 contains an ester count of 500 - 700 g/hla, which is also the maximum allowed by Jamaican legislation, and is one of the rarest instance of a 12 Year Old aged DOK mark from Hampden.

"The particularly intense and beautifully mature palette of flavors and aroams reveals incredibly pure fruity, honeyed, floral and chocolate tones that push its deeply mineral and empyreumatic character into the background."

The HLCF No. 79 has an outturn of 240 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Topaz with copper hues.

Aroma

Full, heady.

Revealing fragrances of essential oils (savoury, verbena, sage), the first nose is also intensely floral (geranium, iris). Allowed to breathe, aromas of very ripe mango, flambéed banana and dried apricot are gradually covered in a fine layer of salted butter caramel. The very peppery aroma palette becomes increasingly refined with time.

Taste

Dynamic, silky.

The fleshy attack (peach, nectarine, Corinthian raisin) is radically different. Cane sugar then spreads bountifully across the palate. The honeyed, floral (broom, mimosa) and salty mid-palate richly develops notes of chocolate éclair and rum baba. The finely liquorice end of the palate has a delicately powdery texture (cocoa, ginger).

Finish

Long, velvety.

Like a Sauternes wine in the prime of life, the start of the finish is exotic (pineapple, passion fruit), more classically fruity (gooseberry, Mirabelle plum) and roasted (coffee). The mineral (slate, lava) and liquorice end of the finish is extremely concentrated. The heady retro-nasal olfaction is characterised by notes of ylang ylang, tuberose and carnation.

The empty glass is oxidative, chocolatey and spicy (curry).

Hampden 12 Year Old 2010 HLCF No. 80

Jamaica, Molasses Rum - 61.3% ABV

Single Cask #8 - Bourbon Barrel (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW)

The Hampden HLCF No. 80 contains an ester count of 500 - 700 g/hla, which is also the maximum allowed by Jamaican legislation, and is one of the rarest instance of a 12 Year Old aged DOK mark from Hampden.

"With extraordinary power and yet remarkable balance, throughout the tasting its flavor and aroma palette reveals empyreumatic, camphoric and hot notes that have not only sculpted its deeply generous personality, but also reflect its extremely traditional Jamaican style."

The HLCF No. 80 has an outturn of 250 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Topaz.

Aroma

Rich, powerful.

The honeyed (lime blossom), camphoric, terpenic (diesel) and telluric (lava) first nose immediately reveals the Hampden trademark. Allowed to breathe, dried fruit and nuts (apricot, walnut, fig) and absolutely delicious fragrances of cane sugar distinctly soften the atmosphere.

Gradually, oxidative notes of stewed melon, balsamic vinegar and chilli (Espelette pepper) enthusiastically lead the nose to the palate.

Taste

Clean, assertive.

After a relatively smooth attack (cane sugar, praline), citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit) and herbaceous flavours (nettle, thyme) appear alongside an incredibly pure distillate. The richer mid-palate invites us to enjoy spice bread and a coffee éclair. The unctuous end of the palate wavers between bourbon vanilla and dark chocolate.

Finish

Long, calmed.

At the start of the finish, sugar cane notes highlight the flavour palette’s vegetal character, which is seasoned with aromatic plants (bay leaf, savoury, peppermint). The imposing end of the finish is an incredibly powerful block of minerals (manganese, basalt).

The retro-nasal olfaction is superbly fruity (pear, pineapple, yellow plum) and the empty glass is spicy (clove, nutmeg) and exotic (plantain banana).

Kanpai!

@111hotpot