Aroma visualization from community tastings
Samaroli Hampden Jamaica Single Cask HLCF 2012
People who want a quieter, wood-forward Hampden might get on with this one — but if you're chasing the wild HLCF funk, brace yourself. Many tasters barely recognized it as Hampden, calling it "more Clarendon like," with muted fruit, roasted wood and noticeable bitterness. The 2012 pot-still esters are there on the nose, then thin out on a dry, tannic, slightly hot palate.
- Fruity, ester-driven nose
- Roasted wood, nutty notes
- Long dry finish
+10
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How does Samaroli Hampden Jamaica Single Cask HLCF 2012 taste?
Aggregated from 43 community reviews.
Muted, wood-heavy Hampden that split drinkers Divisive. A vocal group feels the cask stripped its Hampden funk, leaving wood, bitterness and hot alcohol; a minority enjoys the calmer, fruitier-in-taste profile. Fault-free but underwhelming for most.
Hampden fans who prefer a woodier, restrained profile
Anyone chasing wild HLCF esters and tropical funk
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
22 of 43 left detailed tasting impressions
How is Samaroli Hampden Jamaica Single Cask HLCF 2012 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.0 sits in the “Very good” band. 95% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Rum reviews
53% rate it between 6 and 8. Selected write-ups from 43 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 43 ratings
Review by Johannes
Hampden? I would say that a barrel was swapped.... Blind I would be for quasi-absent fruit and distinct astringent bitterness with Clarendon.
Review by Leo Krüper
As is often the case with Samaroli, the bottle design is the strongest point of the rum. For an HD, there are very few aromas in the glass and it is somewhat weak. However, the rum is also flawless and easy to drink. Perhaps my expectations were wrong.
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
Wait what? Is this Hampden? More Clarendon like. It needs time to open but the funkyness is not like a Hampden. In taste more fruity then in the nose. Interesting profile. Not bad, lots of little things going on. Waxy/velvetty. Gets more low-ester Hampdenny along the way. Need to give this a few more retries.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4233 03.09.2023 this was a nice blind tasting where I saw the black Glencairn tasting glasses for the first time. Not too bad a release but I think the alcohol could have been better integrated. Even when rested for a good while there is still a little bite from the ABV. Intense and fruity with nice esters. The palate is medium dry and warm. The wood and roasted notes are well balanced. The empty glass is really nice and I can pick up some light caramel and nuts.
Review by Adrian Wahl
Unfortunately, the expectations could not be met. With the framework data I thought it could be very exciting. 10 year old HLCF with over 60% and a little over 100€. Unfortunately, I miss the flavors so typical for Hampden very much. So blind for the some do not assign Hampden. Too bad, had expected much more
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Has somehow what of a perfumed candle.... I will not really warm with sorry... Even after more than 2h breathing time is the here still very astringent and pungent. Aromatically, the thing has for me also nothing to do with a Hampden.... As already said by Johannes Brandl before, this could rather be a Clarendon instead of a Hampden... would not be the first samaroli with which the data stimmmen not... too bad!
Review by Rodolphe
Très bon HLCF super doux. Alcool remarquablement intégré. C'est fruité et pâtissier à la fois. Le truc c'est que c'est bon mais limite un peu trop lisse. Ça manque de caractère pour moi.
Review by LukaŽiga
8,4:On the nose, esters, slightly coppery touch, tropical fruits like banana and pineapple, citrus fruits, roasted wood notes like pastry, roasted nuts, spicy vanilla, creamy, buttery, bump into our nosetrils. On aeration, the molasses is flowery and earthy with tobacco, spicier with cinnamon, salty, biscuits join the pastry. 8,3:On the palate, the attack is creamy with roasted wood notes like butterscotch, nuts and pastry, peppery and salty, oaky, as the fruits are tropical with banana and pineapple, mango and red fruits, the molasses is mineral and herbaceous. 8,4:The finish is long, dry&tannic, fruity with tropical, citrus fruits, the wood is roasted, smoky with pastry, yeast, crunchy bread, dark chocolate, nutty, peppery, the molasses is fresh with tea..
Review by Mentalo
I wouldn't have recognized a Hampden in a blind tasting and certainly not with an HLCF Mark. Simply hardly any typical ester notes present. The profile is more like Clarendon. Has light fruity notes and quite a lot of wood. Alcohol could also be better integrated.
Review by zabo
As usual with Samaroli, the label is probably the best thing about this rum. In my opinion, the barrel has robbed the aromas a little. It's a meaningless rum that you can drink once in a while, but unfortunately you're not really missing anything here. There are better HLFCs out there
Review by Timo Groeger
Here again a really nice Jamaican from the Hampden distillery. The higher ester content is typical of the nose and palate. You can also smell and taste tropical fruits here. Alcoholic on the nose, but then disappears somewhat on the palate.
Review by SaibotZtar
Uiuiui... Nose Fruity a touch of ester to feel some alcohol.... for me there already not Eindeutig Hampden to assign 😱😱 too much Florale notes disturbs me but very much .On the palate Hampden HLCF ??? Seriously?? I can't get my head around it ... much bitterness, woody notes .... Alcohol rather poorly integrated. Fruity is almost completely missing. I really had hope but that was nothing ... at least if you love Hampden and its typical fruit and funk.
Review by Thunderbird
The nose is great...an extreme sweet fruitiness paired with vanilla.The palate unfortunately can not keep up by far...wood and alcohol dominate too much. The finish is so-so...
Review by Mike H.
74 points. Slight fruit flavour but rather bitter with badly integrated alcohol.
Review by Rhum Mirror 🇧🇪
🥃 Samaroli – Hampden HLCF 2012 – 59.5% Single cask #10 — clin d’œil à un petit ourson : "Que des numéros 10 dans ma team" 🎯 Un Hampden plus sage que ses cousins : le boisé domine légèrement le funky. Nez : Assez discret côté funky, boisé en avant. Bouche : Plus fruitée, bien structurée. Finale : Fluide et agréable. Un rhum sans défaut, accessible, plaisant, mais un poil sage pour les mordus d’esters bruts.
Review by Domi Mal
Unfortunately, he does not convince - really had the hope that this Samaroli bottling is a hit. 10 years / HLCF / continental / about 60% - not bad conditions. I like the young Hampden. Color really great, for the 10 years continental pretty dark, the nose really not wrong, relatively round, riper than expected, typical fruit notes, plenty of funk - not outstanding but promising.Falls on the palate unfortunately, it does not come across what you want, funk and the tropical fruit cocktail unfortunately go down and the alcohol is unfortunately even after 45min in the glass, not well integrated. Missing notes creep in and unfortunately also some bitter notes that do not fit.
Review by DomM
Reminds me more of a Clarendon rather than an HLCF. From this angle I think it’s enjoyable.
Review by Adrian
1st Tasting (sample of Rhum Attitude): positively surprised, I really like it. Alcohol well integrated, just the right level of ester, not too much and not too little. Great fruit in combination with more tart notes.88 points2. Tasting (sample from the community): Ne, what's going on there? No tasty, light fruit salad or great integration of the alcohol.... Seems like a completely different rum to me. Clearly worse, pretty mediocre.74 pointsNo idea what's going on. Anyway, I'm pretty sure both samples are from the same rum, but from different bottles. Maybe the one from Rhum Attitude improved so significantly just by a bit of oxidation? A 3rd tasting in a few weeks will show it
Review by ElReyTristan
There's no doubt we're dealing with a Jamaican from the Hampden distillery. All the markers are there. The continental Scottish ageing adds a pleasant saline and mineral note.
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
That was a tasting of hlcf letdowns. Clearly this one did not like the cask, since it took away most of its flavours. I am uncertain of what's left. Acidic esters and barely any fruit. The lightly sweet and almonds finish was nice
Details about Samaroli Hampden Jamaica Single Cask HLCF 2012
A Pot Still Rum from Jamaica, bottled by Samaroli, at 59,5%.
Community purchases
21 bottles logged by 18 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
28% opened, 3 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Samaroli Hampden Jamaica Single Cask HLCF 2012?
Community paid 97–115 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
21 purchased · 43 tasted · 4 wishlist · as of
About the Hampden distillery
The Hampden distillery is located in Jamaica. Rums from Hampden have been reviewed 19,744 times with an average of 8.4/10.
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CoR Hampden Jamaica No. 6 HLCF 1998
CoR Hampden Jamaica No. 6 HLCF 1998Tasting noteFunky 23-year Hampden, a touch hot
Hampden RA JMC Distillery C<>H 1990
Hampden RA JMC Distillery C<>H 1990Tasting noteRounded 33-year Hampden, pineapple and esters
Nobilis Hampden No. 7 HLCF 1992
Nobilis Hampden No. 7 HLCF 1992Tasting noteOld, fruity Hampden with toasted oak
Romdeluxe Hampden Wild Series Rum No. 49 2012
Romdeluxe Hampden Wild Series Rum No. 49 2012Tasting noteFruity mid-ester Hampden, dry woody finish
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