We got our hands on some of Hampden Estate's annual distillery edition of Great House rum! It's named after the estate's Great House, where casks of rum were historically stored ready to be shipped to Europe and America. The 2023 edition features a blend of vintages, selected to showcase the Jamaican distillery's characterful, high ester style.
Last time I poured myself a dram, I found it incredibly hot, and my judgement was this is £50 more than it's worth. This time, it's deep layers of burnt sugar, liquorice, oak and varnish, pungent and powerful (and still overpriced!). Hey, if you like Hampden, I imagine you'll like it. I reckon it's more complex than Pagos, but less interesting than the 11yo LROK. Very decent, a solid 8.5 out of 10, but I've only ever given 4 rums a 9, and this ain't it
