Hampden Estate Habitation Velier PM Prestige Ledroit Rum

This bold and complex rum shines when sipped neat or with a single large ice cube to slowly open up its layers of flavor, though it also excels in spirit-forward cocktails that let its unique character take center stage. Its rich, tropical notes make it ideal for enjoying on warm summer evenings, paired with spicy jerk chicken or grilled pineapple for a delightful flavor combination.

Nose: Intense tropical fruit aromas leap from the glass. Ripe pineapple and overripe banana mingle with funky notes of fermented fruit. Hints of vanilla and caramel provide a sweet backdrop, while a touch of ethyl acetate adds a nail polish remover sharpness typical of high-ester Jamaican rums.

Palate: Oily and full-bodied. The funky fruit notes continue, joined by flavors of burnt sugar, molasses, and baking spices. A peppery heat builds, accompanied by a slight metallic tang. The high alcohol content is evident but not overwhelming, allowing the complex flavors to shine through.

Finish: Long and warming. The fruit notes fade, leaving behind a lingering taste of oak, dark chocolate, and coffee grounds. A subtle smokiness emerges, reminiscent of tobacco leaves. The finish is dry with a pleasant astringency that invites another sip.

Hampden Estate Habitation Velier PM Prestige Ledroit Rum is a unique blend of three different marks (LFCH, LROK, and <>H) aged for 2-5 years, created during a special visit to the distillery by industry experts. The rum showcases Hampden's traditional Jamaican production methods, including long fermentations with wild yeasts and pot still distillation, resulting in an intensely flavorful and complex spirit bottled at full strength without additives.

• Hampden Estate uses a unique fermentation ingredient called "muck" - a thick, pungent mixture of fruit, molasses, and dunder that's been fermenting for months or even years. This secret sauce contributes significantly to Hampden's signature funky flavor profile.
• The rum's label includes a "congener level" of 384.9 g/hlpa, which is exceptionally high. For comparison, most light rums have congener levels below 50 g/hlpa. This high congener content is responsible for the rum's intense, complex flavors and aromas.
• One of the marks used in this blend, LFCH, stands for "Light Flavoured Compound Hampden." Despite its name, it's actually one of Hampden's most intensely flavored and aromatic distillates, prized by blenders for its ability to add depth and character to rum blends.