Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023)
"One of the most beautiful aromas I have ever smelled," one taster wrote — and most agree the nose is the highlight: overripe pineapple, esters, vanilla, marzipan and cookie dough. The palate softens into sweeter tropical fruit with kiwi, leather and young wood, sometimes a peppery, bitter close. A Hampden wedding bottling that reads rounder and more drinkable than the Great House releases.
- Stunning fruity nose
- Well-integrated alcohol
- Rounded and drinkable
+10
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How does Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023) taste?
Aggregated from 54 community reviews.
Rounded Hampden with a gorgeous fruity nose Loved for its gorgeous nose and easy, rounded profile, but many find the palate less special than the Great House releases — good Hampden, just not the deepest.
Hampden fans who want a rounder, fruit-forward pot-still bottle
Anyone chasing wild, deep high-ester intensity
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
21 of 54 left detailed tasting impressions
How is Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023) rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.5 sits in the “Very good” band. 100% 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
19% rate it between 6 and 8. Selected write-ups from 54 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 54 ratings
Review by Schnubbi
I'm looking forward to finally trying this particular Hampden. It's apparently an older OWH married to a younger <>H, created to celebrate the wedding of Christelle Harris and Matthew Hann. On the nose, I immediately find tropical fruit, pineapple and especially kiwi, which I haven't experienced from other Hampdens before. On the palate, again kiwi and some leather, quite exciting. The taste profile is recognizably Hampden, but for my taste it differs somewhat from the Great House range. In line with the Marks, not really extreme but rather accessible, but still somewhere unique. This combination of kiwi and leather is something I've never experienced from Hampden before. In the finish, I first find kiwi again, then leather and finally a slight bitterness. My conclusion: Given the relatively small number of bottles, you may not necessarily be missing out on one of the best Hampden, but it is a very good Hampden with a very unique flavor profile. A sample is worthwhile here.
Review by Rado Vito
One of the most beautiful aroma I have ever smell. This it truly rum created for a wedding. Also taste is very complex and integral. Piece of art. Of course, for those of us, who knows Hampden. Let´s admit it, it is not the most interesting one. However, I have to highlight the fact, this rum was created for everybody (begginers and advanced rum lovers). Great job.
Review by zabo
Franconian Tasting Gang Completely undervalued for me. A super rum with its own profile. There's really no need to compare it with the Great House range. Only the price is a little too high. Which in retrospect costs it a point deduction.
Review by Jarek
Ein Hampden-Tasting, mit Great House 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 und 2023. Dazu der New Beginnings und beide Versionen des Pagos. Den New Beginnings finde ich im Vergleich zu den Great House unterbewertet. Ist ein etwas anderes Profil, in der Nase weniger Ester und dunkler. Aber trotzdem sehr lecker.
Review by DomM
Nose a little underwhelming. Nice depth and complexity on the palate however. Enjoyable but very much a collectors item I would guess ;)
Review by Nika
Higher 8 because it’s fun. Kiwi/pineapple comming to something leathery/ glue. Also really nice flow in taste. How the elements are changing. You can spot different steps in the mouth.
Review by Adrian Wahl
Sehr schöner runder Hampden. Bin super gespannt auf den Mai Tai
Review by F.L.O.
Der Hochzeitsrum von Hampden lässt grüßen. Super Nase mit schönem Ester, Frucht, wenig Holz….einfach Hampden like. Auf der Zunge liegt dann ein buttriger Geschmack über den erwarteten Aromen. Gut, aber nicht unbedingt das, was ich täglich im Glas haben möchte.
Review by El Peludo
Moi qui aime modérément les Hampden, je trouve celui-ci plutôt équilibré, avec des caractéristiques propres de cette distillerie. Des fruits mûrs, une certaine gourmandise, une belle fraicheur en fin de bouche. Ça ne sort pas totalement de l'ordinaire mais c'est très bien fait et c'est plutôt facile à déguster avec un alcool bien intégré.
Review by Serge
I didn't find it any better than the GHs (I tried gh19-23 at the same time) ... I would rate it at the same level even if it differs slightly in style.
Review by Buddudharma
Franconian Tasting Gang 16.12.23: Clearly behind the GHs on the nose, much closer on the palate and very solid.
Review by Thunderbird
The nose is stunning...1a Hampden essence! Verbena pineapple, esters, vanilla, marzipan and cookie dough... wonderful... On the palate, however, disillusionment... initially a heavy sweetness with marzipan and honey and gentle esters with pineapple. This is quickly followed by salty, peppery spices with young wood and a strong bitter note. This continues on the finish... a little longer ageing would probably have done it good
Review by Leo Tomczak
Could also be a Great House. Very round and drinkable, classic blend.
Review by Jürgen Gigl
Ein etwas anderer Hampden! Bin etwas hin und hergerissen, weil er doch etwas anders als die bisher verkosteten Hamdens ist. Aber er hat definitiv Potential. Der Alkohol ist sehr gut eingebunden und insgesamt ist er gut gelungen. Den Preis finde ich aber etwas sehr hoch angesetzt. 🥃
Review by Olivia
Tasting 16.12 Personally, I wouldn't compare it with the GH series. I find it quite unspectacular. No rough edges. Not very exciting, ergo distinctive, flavor profile. I'm glad I didn't get a bottle of it. At least the alcohol is well integrated
Review by Giorgio Garotti
An unusual hampden, very balanced and with few flavor peaks! Considering the reason why this bottle was made I would have expected something different! Let's say this is more of an everyday hampden!
Review by Alex1981
WL23: generally ok release, but less special than expected. Doesn’t hold much against the GH or other special releases. Probably needed to meet a more general taste for the wedding :-) Yeah, after a second try still not convincing. Not bad, but also not great.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4333 21.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023
Review by Martin Švojgr
Hned na začátku musím říci, že jsem čekal něco jiného. Ve vůni jasně identifikivatelný Hampden. Sladká esterovost je cítit hned, ale přidává se k tomu dřevitost. V chuti se k tomu ta dřevitost přidává (mladé dřevo) v té kombinaci mi to nějak nesedí. Místo sladkého esterového konce mi na patře zůstává divná dřevitá hořkost. Jsem rád že jsem ochutnal, ale lahev bych doma mít nepotřeboval.
Review by Pavel Spacek
WLP tastings
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Details about Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023)
A Pot Still Rum from Jamaica, bottled by Velier, at 57%.
Community purchases
53 bottles logged by 42 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
7% opened, 2 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Velier Hampden New Beginnings (June 03, 2023)?
Community paid 165–256 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
53 purchased · 55 tasted · 13 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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