Jamaica 2023 – Hampden C<>H Edition Blue Catawiki - Fino

Jamaica 2023 - Hampden 1300-1400 GR/HLPA Fino

Region: Jamaica

Distillery: Hampden

Age: 1 year

Distillation: 06-2023

Bottled: 03-2025

Cask no: 147

Cask type: 1st fill Fino Sherry Hogshead

Still type: Pot (C<>H)

Maturation: Continental

ABV 61.9%

Vol. 700 ml

No bottles: 75

Tasting Notes:

“We’re in the 1,300–1,400 gr ester/hlpa range here, which would also correspond to the C<>H mark. See last week’s little brother which had seen some Madeira rather than fino. While we say our prayers, let us remember that Hampden is one of those very rare spirits that really don’t need long ageing. Colour: gold. Nose: I’m sorry to say, I adore this. Utter precision, zero external influence, with a fino that, in any case, is probably playing in exactly the same league. Pushing things a bit, one might even claim Hampden belongs to the fino category of rum. Gorgeous carbon, acetone, and tidal sea water. With water: no change whatsoever. I reckon you could drop this to 10% ABV and it still wouldn’t make much difference. Mouth (neat): insanely vinegary and crammed with brine and ultra-concentrated liquorice. With water: what a creature! A bit more on the plastic side, but it’s plastic that harms no planet. Finish: ultra-long and ultra-saline. We wonder whether the famed fino didn’t just further amplify the profile of this little C<>H. Anchovy in brine. Comments: could we perhaps get more details about that famous ‘fino’? I liked this ‘fino’ a tad better than the ‘Madeira’, which was already quite stellar.”

Note: SGP:364 - 90 points.

Source: whiskyfun.com