B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More
Among rum fanatics, the Hampden name instills a sense of reverence and, you might even say, joy thanks to their incredible, single-estate expressions that are known the world over. The estate's storied history as a sugar plantation and distillery dates back 265 years, but it was only in 2010 that they began aging their rums on site, and only in 2018 that they began bottling under their own label. In that brief span of time, the estate's official bottlings have become some of the most coveted and desired in the rum scene. Although we've endured a bit of a Hampden absence for a while, the brand is back in action at B-21 with its two most beloved releases, the 8 Year Old Single Estate and the HLCF Classic Pure Single Estate.
The 8 Year's widely recognized green label is a symbol of excellence to Jamaican rum fans everywhere, as the light ester OWH marque is a perfect introduction to Jamaican rum category, offering a classic profile that isn't overwhelmingly funky or industrial with esters at just 40-60 g/HLPA . Still, the 8 Year is "loaded with aromatic and flavor complexity" according to B-21 Spirits Buyer Andrew Kitz. The intensely fruity nose is accented with numerous secondary nuances, while the palate offers just enough for funk fans to smile about without turning away the novice taster who's taking their first foray into Jamaican rum. As Andrew notes, it's "one of the iconic Jamaican rums that made me a fully converted rum fanatic, [and] it’s every bit as compelling as it’s always been."
Taking things in a completely different direction, the HLCF Classic shows Hampden's higher-ester chops in all their glory. At 400-600 g/HLPA, it offers "the quintessential counterpart to the 8 Year’s relatively lighter, gentler personality." As the Beverage Testing Institute declares in their 97-point review, "this is not for the faint of heart or amateur imbiber, but hot damn is this delicious and complex; would happily sit with a bottle all day." A big industrial funk character is the foundation of the profile, offering "stunning complexity" on the nose and a deeply resonant, multi-dimensional palate. As Andrew notes, "those who appreciate the style will absolutely go head over heels for it."
Jamaican rum is a category unto itself, and Hampden occupies a very special place in that sphere, so when we say these are must-have expressions for any fan of the category, we surely mean it. | 
Top Quality Store
