Rum

Good things come to those who wait. In this case, that good thing is a rum first conceived of nearly three years ago among friends around a table in the hot, humid climate of Jamaica's Trelawny Parish. In the summer of 2022, we took a trip down there with our colleagues at Prestige-Ledroit to visit one of the most incredible distilleries on earth, the legendary Hampden Estate.

Hampden has been producing rum for over 250 years and the facility is truly a marvel to behold. Walking the grounds and production areas helps one to understand how Hampden produces some of the most distinctive, high-quality, and sought-after rum in the world.

To commemorate this trip, we created a blend of three of Hampden's iconic rum marks – LFCH, LROK, and <>H – aged for several years in the tropical climate of northwest Jamaica. The blend is composed of ten barrels that were distilled on Hampden's famed double retort pot stills, selected by us and blended to our specifications, and bottled at cask strength with no adulteration.

With this Reserve Cask Collection, we’re proud to bring you an Extra Old, Single Cask Jamaican rum aged 18 years. Notes of tobacco, almond, and anise pair together delightfully with notes of tropical fruits and lemongrass to create an exceptionally bold and aromatic expression. Bottled at 92 proof with a long and generous finish, this rum delivers a transportive and indelible sipping experience. Limited to only 325 bottles, this special release is a covetable addition to any connoisseur's collection.

100% Rum. No added sugar, coloring, or flavoring.

TASTING NOTES
Delight in bold notes of tobacco, almond, and black tea, interwoven with tropical fruits and lemongrass. This Jamaican rum offers layers of marzipan, toasted oats, and bitter cacao, leading to a generous, long finish with gentle acidity, creating a powerful and aromatic experience.

• • Distilled: Beenleigh Artisan Distillery (Australia) 
  • Tropically Aged: 10 Years Australia 
  • Continentally Aged: 5 Years Continental Europe
  • Cask Type: ex-Bourbon Cask
  • Distilled From: Molasses
  • Still Type: Pot / Column Stills
  • Bottled By: Europe (La Maison & Velier)
  • Age: 15 Years 
  • More Info: No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Proof
  • Fermentation: Now discontinued long fermentation, S.Pombe yeast
  • Esters: 89.1gr/HLPA
  • Naturally Occurring Sugars: 1.4 grams per liter
  • Designation: Single Rum (Single Batch Distilled at Single Distillery)
  • ABV: 65.7% ABV 
  • Yield: 250 Bottles (232 Available for Sale)
  • Packaging: Custom Cask Sticker + Wooden Display Box (It's solid, real wood) 
  • Retailer: SharedPour
  • Price: $129.99
  • T8ke's Tasting Notes: 
    • Nose:Sweet butterscotch, peaches and honey, sweet papaya and a hint of tropical funk. Black pepper, ginger, candied berries and a hint of cinnamon meets brown sugar, more butterscotch and a pop of delightful tropical fruits. It's sweet, there's a pan of funk, there's dessert and hints of oak. 
    • Palate: Rich on the palate, viscous from the proof but not too heavy. Sneaky for the proof, just a faint tickle of ethanol. Pineapples, peaches, pears, papaya and a hint of mango mixes with pleasant oak, cracked pepper, a touch of industrial funk and balancing, rich, tropical hogo.   Light tobacco, more butterscotch and light dessert caramels here blend with tropical fruit, spice and enticing funk. It's not heavy and dull, it's bright and enticing. 
    • Finish: Long finish, the funk settles here giving more time to the tropical fruits and caramels, the pleasant but respectful oak. More pepper, sweet caramels and butterscotch, lovely woody structure and more tropical fruits with some molasses, toffee and a final pop of tropical fruits and funk. 
    • Overall: Not too old, not too young, bright and fun without tearing your head off. Aussie, baby!