Located in Trelawny, in the Queen of Spain’s Valley, the Hampden estate spans over 5,000 hectares. Since 2009, it has been owned by the Hussey family, who are responsible for its renovation. Very traditional, it is one of very few distilleries in the world to continue to use the residue from distillation remaining in the bottom of the stills (dunder) during fermentation in order to produce an ester-rich rum. Bearing the name of the family residence built in 1753, Great House wonderfully embodies Hampden’s exuberant and eminently Jamaican style. It is also embellished with sequences whose complexity and depth wonderfully highlight the stripped back classicism of a flavour and aroma palette that goes far beyond its island frontiers.
The distinguished first nose is exotic (passion fruit), medicinal (ointment), floral and honeyed (lime blossom). Allowed to breathe, cane sugar flows uninterrupted across the aromatic palette. The sharp attack is bright and reveals sweet pastry notes (Normandy tart, sugary brioche). On the mid-palate, the same honey appears alongside apricot jam and rose flavours. The concentrated start of the finish accentuates the rich character of the palate (vanilla flan). Velvety, it develops notes of cocoa bean before moving onto a medicinal (camphor) and deliciously sweet and savoury retro-nasal olfaction.
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