Review #868; Rum #249: Kintra Hampden 8yr (2009)

This rum comes to us from Independent Bottler Kintra, who I have not had any bottlings from so far. Coming from my favorite rum distillery Hampden, this bottle was distilled in 2009 then aged for 8 years in an ex-bourbon barrel before being bottled at cask strength with no additives. If the list at Single Cask Rum is right then this is an aged expression of DOK, the highest marque Hampden produces clocking in at 1500-1600 g/hlaa.

ABV: 56.5%

Nose: Pungent, this fills the room with its smells that waft about as I write this. Rich butterscotch, Very over-ripe bananas, Mango, Cement Glue, Star Anise, Guava, Slight Vegetalness, Charred Pineapple Bark, slight rotting fruit, vinegar, cumin, Allspice, iodine.

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Cement Glue, Guava, over-ripe pineapple, Charred pineapple Bark, Allspice, Iodine, Vegetalness, vanilla.

Finish: Long finish, Iodine, Butterscotch, Cement Glue, Vinegar, Peppery, Over-ripe banana, Mango, Star Anise, Oak Spice.

Rating: 9/10

What an incredible rum. This is one of the best noses I have ever smelled in a rum. I didn’t even really need to put the glass up to my nose as the nose filled the rum with the wild scents. Much like unaged DOK intense over-ripe, maybe even a bit of rotting fruit dominates the nose. Industrial charred fruits, Vegetalness, Vinegar, Iodine, with some vanilla. This is more of an experience than simply sipping on a rum. The only reason it doesn’t launch to a vaunted 10/10 for me is that the noes does not translate 100% to the palate. Perhaps I shouldn’t hold that against it but this is one of the best aged rum’s I have ever had.

**Note:** I added the Fat Rum Pirate’s review as it helped me find some of the information I used. Fat Rum Pirate Kintra Review

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect