Rolling Fork Jamaica Hampden 11 Year 2012: Selected by Seelbach’s

Review #1115; Rum #438

This rum was bottled by Rolling Fork, an American independent bottler based out of Kentucky. The rum for this bottle was distilled at Hampden and aged for 11 years with a mix of ageing in Tropical and Continental environments. It was bottled at cask strength with no chill filtering and is a blend of marques.

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Distillery: Hampden Estate

Bottler: Rolling Fork

Region: Jamaica

Still: Pot

ABV: 59.4%

Age: 11 in Ex-Bourbon Cask

Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Pineapple, Vanilla, cedarwood, Guava, Black Pepper

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Pineapple, Guava, bit of apple

Finish: Medium length finish, vanilla, black pepper, pineapple, guava

Rating: 6/10

This is very good rum. This blend of marques is on the lower side of the spectrum, it reads to me like OWN, LROK esque. The flavors are nice and it reminds me of a higher proof OWH with some nice age on it. The flavors integrate well, but aren’t particularly punchy in the way that I like Jamaican rums to be. But, it’s a good, less in your face introduction to Hampden Estate rum, which makes sense for a Kentucky based rum bottler to appeal to bourbon fans.  

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