Jamaica 2023 - Hampden 1500-1600 GR/HLPA Oloroso
This Hampden 2023 release was aged for 9 months in Europe in a 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead cask. Distilled in April 2023, with the highest possible esters' content (DOK mark), it was bottled in May 2024 at 63.4% ABV. This edition of 323 bottles captures the nuanced influence of the sherry cask on the bold, high ester, Jamaican rum.
This Hampden 2023 release was aged for 9 months in Europe in a 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead cask. Distilled in April 2023, with the highest possible esters' content (DOK mark), it was bottled in May 2024 at 63.4% ABV. This edition of 323 bottles captures the nuanced influence of the sherry cask on the bold, high ester, Jamaican rum.
This Hampden 2023 release was aged for 9 months in Europe in a 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead cask. Distilled in April 2023, with the highest possible esters' content (DOK mark), it was bottled in May 2024 at 63.4% ABV. This edition of 323 bottles captures the nuanced influence of the sherry cask on the bold, high ester, Jamaican rum.
Jamaica 2023 - Hampden 1500-1600 GR/HLPA Oloroso
Region: Jamaica
Distillery: Hampden
Age: 9 months
Distillation: 04-2023
Bottled: 05-2024
Cask no: 18
Cask type: Oloroso
Still type: Pot Still
Maturation: Continental
ABV 63.4%
Vol. 700 ml
No bottles: 323
Tasting Notes:
An ultra-young DOK, not even a year old. Let’s see if the oloroso has anything to tell us in this extreme context. Colour: deep gold. Nose: I get it. If you're going to go for a 'paille' or 'reposado' style, you might as well use ultra-active casks, as long as you don't end up with too much wood influence. That's not the case here, the DOK shines through, but the green walnuts of the oloroso seem to mingle and even... invite it to dance a tango. It’s quite amusing but, to be honest, it remains an extreme Hampden. The Hell’s Angels of rum. With water: seawater, clams, barnacles, anchovies, and boat varnish. Mouth (neat): sublimely salty, giving the impression they’ve distilled salty liquorice steeped in ultra-dry oloroso. You’d have to be mad. The fruits are jostling in the background, but this ultimate liquorice paired with fresh walnut is holding them back for now. With water: hyper-salty, hyper-tarry, full-on rubber and brine... It’s perfect. Finish: very long but extremely salty. Could the oloroso have come from the seaside? Sanlúcar? Comments: almost impossible to score, it’s totally love it or hate it, one again. Not easy following the magnificent Velier, but it does stand proudly.
Note:SGP:463 - 89 points.
Source: whiskyfun.com
