Hampden Great House Distillery Edition 2024

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 57% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Great House is a Distillery Edition with a newly composed blend each year since 2019; the 2024 release is the sixth in the series. Hampden blends several rum marks from three different vintages for this edition. The marks distinguish the distillates by their ester concentration and, consequently, their aromatic character. Production is based on molasses and dunder. Dunder refers to the residues from previous distillations. Following fermentation, distillation takes place in double-retort pot stills. The rums mature in Jamaica under tropical conditions in former bourbon casks and are bottled at a powerful 57%.

The edition pays tribute to the estate's Great House, commissioned by the Stirling family in 1779. Rum casks were once stored there before being transported to the port; today, the building welcomes guests. This bottling combines abundant tropical fruit with refreshing mint, earthy and mineral impressions, and spicy tobacco notes. It is bottled without chill filtration or colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is full and taut. Mint, ripe mango and dry earth appear first. Quince jelly, blackberry jam and orange marmalade then emerge, adding a richer fruity sweetness to the aroma.
• Palate: On the palate, the rum is clear and lively. Coconut, mango and passion fruit initially create a lush abundance of tropical fruit. Warm and refreshing impressions alternate, revealing chocolate chips, mineral slate notes and mint tea. The chocolate notes combine with a supple texture.
• Finish: The finish is full-bodied, invigorating and intense. Herbal notes of Havana cigar and pepper linger. Red fruit infusions and marshmallow then bring freshness. The finish grows increasingly rich and ends with cranberry and raisin.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hampden Estate has been distilling since 1753 in Jamaica's Trelawny Parish, near Cockpit Country. Since 2009, the estate has belonged to the Hussey family through Everglades Farms Ltd. Its own rums mature on site; the first official aged bottlings followed in 2018. Previously, Hampden supplied its distillates mainly to other bottlers and producers of rum blends.

Long fermentations with naturally occurring yeasts and distillation in copper pot stills with two retorts define Hampden's approach. The different marks allow the distillery to distinguish specific ester concentrations and aromatic profiles. Several of these own distillates are blended for Great House 2024. The rum matures entirely at Hampden Estate and is also bottled there.

Facts: