Evaluate 104 – Habitation Velier Hampden HLCF 2010

The Habitation vary already has just a few years beneath its belt, and encompass some fairly younger single nonetheless expressions, starting from conventional column fra Rhum Rhum, to the pot stills of Worthy Park, Hampden, Foursquare and Port Mourant.

I my world all these rums are principally inspirational items, present circumstances that excist to coach on what sure varieties of nonetheless can produce and produce to the desk – so to talk.

In addition they present hyper particular profiles for use as substances in cocktails.

Most of them will likely be too intense and/or insane for the informal rum drinker. However that shouldn’t discourage you from giving them a go. We’re all explorers of the rum world and most of us received’t assume twice earlier than dipping our snouts into one thing we should always have simply left alone.

As a part of the unique Habitation launch, the Hampden was one of many first occasions (if not the primary) that the world laid eyes upon a tropically aged Hampden. And so as to add to that, a pure pot nonetheless beast.

Being six years previous it comes off as a slightly younger rum in a world the place we’re accustomed to rums of 10+ years of age. However the younger age could very effectively be very intentional.

The HLCF is a conventional jamaican marque indicating which ester profile we’re coping with. For the reason that Jamaicans deal in an enormous vary of ester rely, they wanted labels to distinguish. HLCF being a excessive ester profile – however no the place close to the best – I’m certain we will anticipate one thing slightly intense from this bottling.

An ester rely of 550 gl/laa is talked about on the field, however apart from it being a comparatively excessive worth in comparison with the overwhelming majority of obtainable rums on the market, I do not know what to make of it but or any need to geek it out additional at this level.

One thing I do know what to make of, if the proof. 68,5% ABV. Take that pesky little 40%’ers.

This rum is on steroids and can simply beat your manly tonsils into submission. On paper a minimum of. Let’s see the way it handles afterward.

Realizing the place this comes from and who bottled it, it shouldn’t be essential to level it out, however after all this comprises no sugar as said proper there on the label. Good.

Presentation
The place the black, monolithic look of the Velier Demeraras introduced efficiency, heft and energy, the Habitation vary sports activities one thing else.

With partly opaque brown medication bottles (though I don’t assume medication was ever ordained in 70 cl bottles), a really giant lable with previous model writings and what seems to be like hand drawings of the originating nonetheless, this line of rums glow of drugs, science, schooling and data.

“Dr. Reliable’s Miracle Medication” … however there’s no quackery afoot right here. Not within the least.

The field is sturdy, beige and mimic the aura of each bottle and label.

The entrance label mentions all of the related particulars, and on the again we get somewhat historic perception: Particularly that it is a first ever. Domestically, tropically aged rum from Hampden Distillery, Trelawny, Jamaica.

Within the glass the attractive straw colored liquid strikes with grace because it coates the edges and by no means lets go.

Nostril
Already if you pull the cork, you already know one thing loopy is stirring. A fast stab of funk lashes out at you as you pour the shot. And because it breathes within the glass much more funky fruits leap at you.

Thick, tremendous ripe bananas involves thoughts first. It nearly feels prefer it oozes over the sting of the glass. It’s that sort of thick.

Hitching a experience on the banana ooze we discover concentrated inexperienced apples and mangoes.

There’s the standard sprint of cola which was higher yesterday and one thing barely rotten beneath.

When individuals say “Funky Jamaican” that is what I consider. It’s an overabundance of fragrances – principally delishious tropical fruits, but in addition dying and decay.

At this level I’d anticipate it to be slightly excessive proof, however nowhere close to the listed 68,5%. There isn’t any critical nasal stabbing occurring apart from the primary few whiffs. However these appeared extra playful than in poor health supposed.

Style
First tastes reveal some keen burnt rubber notes, that rapidly dies off and units the scene for the extra fruity primary course.

As you let it progress to the edges of you tongue it opens up and turns into tremendous tasty with a fruity salad akin to the notes from the nostril. The bananas, mangoes and apples are again and actually doesn’t convey far more.

There’s a little oak within the combine as effectively however not sufficient to take a correct stand.

It does set hearth to every part it touches and allows you to keep in mind that we’re coping with a simply south of 70% beef cake and that one ought to tread evenly or undergo the implications.

After the primary few sips it does grow to be extra manageable and if you lastly get to benefit from the full blast, it’s equal pleasure, sweat, pleasure and remorse. Remorse that you just didn’t purchase a case of those as a substitute of simply the one bottle.

End
At first the warmth appears to by no means need to depart. It retains churning on and it hits you want waves pummeling the shore.

Solely if you lastly get used to it, it slowly begins to die off taking all the stunning fruity flavours with it in a fantastic huge dance off.

The dying fruits leaves extra space for the oaks, and ultimately you’ll get somewhat spicy finale to remind you of the barrel growing old.

A number of minutes later whereas the sweat nonetheless trickles out of your brow you’re left with a imprecise sense of the tropical fruit bonanza and an oily really feel coating the mouth.

Score and remaining ideas
This was by far one of many largest and greatest shock throughout my down time. The primary time I attempted it was with some fellow rum nerds within the Rum Symposium Copenhagen and we have been all blown away by it. I bear in mind individuals instantly pulling out their telephones to purchase bottles from eBay and different webshops to safe their very own bottle.

Later I attempted it alone with loads of time to savour the second, and it was equally improbable.

For me this explicit rum marks the essence of why Hampden stays as one in every of my favourite distilleries.

The extraordinary flavours we get from them are distinctive and in my eyes unrivalled by anyone the world of rum.

The place the majestic, monstrous, behemoth Demeraras are precisely that, Hampden delivers probably the most delicate ballerina of a rum with a large flavour bomb up her skirt – pardon my french.

And what’s to not like about that?

I might have wished for a extra big selection of flavours and extra proof of the growing old. However when it tastes this good, would I even need it any completely different? Reality be instructed, I’m unsure.

My love for this rum is the only real cause I’ve been reluctant to soak up the newer Habitation Velier Hampden expressions. There’s additionally an decrease ester LROK and a mix of LROK and HLCF on the market. However to this present day, I’m very proud of my HLCF and I’m unsure I need to boring down the ester rely.

Wager it’s pricy then? That relies upon what you often fork over for a bottle of rum. However someplace within the neighborhood of €100 doesn’t scare me off in any respect. Not if you get a rum this stunning and effectively crafted.

Hell, in the event that they hadn’t put it within the science-y Habitation bundle, and had gone for a flashy decanter model bottle and put it in a flowery engraved wood field with a magnetic seal, it will have pulled a value thrice as excessive and no person would have frowned the least little bit.

However this appears to comply with a latest pattern the place superb rums doesn’t have to be very costly as effectively. Take Foursquare and their insanely low-cost costs for one. The Habitation bottlings all vary from €50 – 70 for unaged varieties and €90 – 120 for the aged ones.

That’s actually not dangerous contemplating the large high quality within the bottles.

Let’s have extra of this! Pure, correct rum in a value vary the place most can play alongside.

Come to the top of this second evaluation within the new Rum Nook age, we have now to settle the rating.

I don’t care… this rum belong proper at one of the best finish of the size. With flavour, magnificence and craft like this, we gotta attain for someting alongside the road of a …

Score: 90/100