Hampden Estate

Hampden Estate, located in Trelawny, Jamaica, is renowned for its historic distillery and exceptional rums.  Its rich heritage dates back to 1753 when it was established as a sugar plantation. Hampden has been producing rum for over two centuries, making it one of the oldest distilleries in Jamaica.

Below, we listed a few interesting facts that make Hampden Estate stand out from other rum distilleries:

Traditional Production Methods: Hampden is known for its commitment to traditional rum-making techniques. They employ a combination of pot stills and fermentation with wild yeasts, giving their rums a distinctive, funky and complex flavour profile.

Unique Terroir: The distillery's location provides a unique terroir that contributes to the character of their rums. The fertile soil, tropical climate, and proximity to the Cockpit Country contribute to the rich and flavourful sugarcane used in their production.

High Ester Rums: One of the distinguishing features of Hampden rums is their high ester content. Esters are aromatic compounds formed during fermentation, which contribute to the fruity and funky flavours found in Jamaican rums. Hampden is known for producing some of the highest ester rums in the world.

Tropical Aging: Their rums undergo aging in the tropical climate of Jamaica, which significantly accelerates the maturation process compared to cooler climates. This rapid aging, combined with the high ester content, results in rums with intense and unique flavours.

Wide Range of Expressions: Hampden offers a diverse range of rum expressions, catering to different tastes and preferences. Their portfolio includes both aged and young rums, ranging from lighter and fruitier profiles to bold and funky offerings.

Limited Edition Releases: The distillery also periodically releases limited edition bottlings, which are highly sought after by rum enthusiasts. These releases often showcase unique aging techniques, collaborations with other distilleries, or exceptional vintage expressions.

Cocktail Versatility: While their rums are enjoyable on their own, they also excel in cocktails. The bold flavours and complexity of their rums can elevate classic tiki drinks, tropical ones, and even innovative mixology creations.

Commitment to Sustainability: The distillery prioritizes sustainable practices in their operations. They strive to minimize environmental impact, promote biodiversity, and support the local community through various initiatives.

Hampden distillery and their rums embody the rich history, traditional techniques, and distinctive flavours of Jamaican rum and we believe whether sipped neat or mixed in cocktails, their offerings provide a memorable and authentic rum experience which should be enjoyed by everyone, at least once in a lifetime!

A few of our favourite bottlings are:

Hampden 8 Year Old Estate Rum - 46% 70cl

The flavours of this 8 year old rum are an absolute tropical delight, with notes of banana, mango, vanilla, and cinnamon spice and a hint of oiliness on the finish. A perfect introduction to Jamaican rums.

Hampden Estate Overproof HLCF Classic Pure Single Jamaican Rum - 70cl 60%

This expression hits heavy with a 60% abv! Compared to their 8 year old, the overproof keeps the tropical character with fruity notes like bananas and mangos but also introduces BBQ notes and hints of charcoal smoke, with a slightly herbal finish.

Habitation Velier Hampden 2010 LROK 6 Year Old - 67% 70cl

One of my favourites, this 6 year old release of Hampden was bottled by Habitation Velier and it present beautiful, rich and complex aromas; Pineapple and ripe bananas intoxicate the nose and transfer to the palate, which is floral, tropical and slightly herbaceous or vegetal, with the exotic fruitiness being followed by hints of woody spice. A teat for sure, that would surprise even whisky drinkers!

Written by Raluca Maroiu