Evaluation 104 – Habitation Velier Hampden HLCF 2010

The Habitation vary already has just a few years underneath its belt, and include 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.

Additionally they present hyper particular profiles for use as elements in cocktails.

Most of them will probably 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 relatively younger rum in a world the place we’re accustomed to rums of 10+ years of age. However the younger age could very nicely 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 depend, they wanted labels to distinguish. HLCF being a excessive ester profile – however no the place close to the best – I’m certain we are able to anticipate one thing relatively intense from this bottling.

An ester depend 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 no less than. Let’s see the way it handles in a while.

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

“Dr. Reliable’s Miracle Drugs” … 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 slightly historic perception: Specifically that this can be a first ever. Domestically, tropically aged rum from Hampden Distillery, Trelawny, Jamaica.

Within the glass the gorgeous 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 realize 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 form of thick.

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

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

When folks say “Funky Jamaican” that is what I consider. It’s an overabundance of fragrances – principally delishious tropical fruits, but additionally loss of life and decay.

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

Style
First tastes reveal some keen burnt rubber notes, that shortly dies off and units the scene for the extra fruity major 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 carry way more.

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

It does set hearth to every part it touches and allows you to do not forget that we’re coping with a simply south of 70% beef cake and that one ought to tread calmly or undergo the implications.

After the primary few sips it does turn out 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 simply didn’t purchase a case of those as an alternative 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 beautiful fruity flavours with it in an awesome massive dance off.

The dying fruits leaves more room for the oaks, and ultimately you’ll get slightly spicy finale to remind you of the barrel getting 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 ultimate ideas
This was by far one of many greatest and finest shock throughout my down time. The primary time I attempted it was with some fellow rum nerds within the Rum Symposium Copenhagen and we had been all blown away by it. I keep in mind folks 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 implausible.

For me this specific rum marks the essence of why Hampden stays as one among 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 essentially 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 may have wished for a extra big range of flavours and extra proof of the getting old. However when it tastes this good, would I even need it any totally different? Reality be informed, I’m unsure.

My love for this rum is the only cause I’ve been reluctant to absorb the newer Habitation Velier Hampden expressions. There may be 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 depend.

Wager it’s pricy then? That relies upon what you normally 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 nicely crafted.

Hell, in the event that they hadn’t put it within the science-y Habitation package deal, and had gone for a flashy decanter type bottle and put it in a elaborate engraved picket field with a magnetic seal, it will have pulled a worth 3 times as excessive and no person would have frowned the least little bit.

However this appears to comply with a current pattern the place excellent rums doesn’t have to be very costly as nicely. 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 unhealthy contemplating the large high quality within the bottles.

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

Come to the tip of this second evaluation within the new Rum Nook age, we’ve to settle the rating.

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

Score: 90/100