Aroma visualization from community tastings
Swell de Spirits Hampden POP’ Series N°1 (Inter Caves France) 2012
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Not the wild tropical funk you expect from Hampden — this leans low-ester and almost pastry-like, with apple, pear and a "tarte tatin" note several French tasters flagged, plus caramel, vanilla and lightly baked shortcrust. Banana and pineapple sit underneath, alongside olive, spice and oak. Cask strength but the alcohol is well tucked in. The finish, though, runs short.
The community says- Apple-pear pastry nose
- Low-ester surprise
- But: Short finish
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The look inside the bottle
How does Swell de Spirits Hampden POP’ Series N°1 (Inter Caves France) 2012 taste?
Summarized by AI from 32 community reviews.
Low-ester Hampden with apple-pear pastry notes A well-liked but quiet Hampden. Fans love the unexpected apple-pear-pastry nose; others find it a touch bitter, astringent and short, calling it good but skippable.
Hampden fans curious about a softer, low-ester profile
People chasing big tropical funk and a long finish
Style & occasion: Tropical & funkySipping neatCocktails & mixing
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
18 of 32 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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Community voices
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32 community reviews
18 selected write-ups on this page, all of them in the RumX app
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Ranges include their upper bound: “7–8” means above 7 up to and including 8. See the full rating guide
Positive from 8.0 · Mixed 6.0–7.9 · Critical below 6.0
Review by Serge
Most helpful positive review
Delicious low ester Hampden. A beautiful nose with great (and uncharacteristic for Hampden) notes of apple and pear with caramel, vanilla, and lightly baked shortcrust pastry, which are joined by banana and pineapple. There is also a hint of varnish. The same picture emerges on the palate, but unfortunately the pastry fades into the background somewhat. However, the apple and caramel remain.
Review by Thunderbird
Most helpful mixed review
Definitely a low-ester rum... on the nose, fruit (atypical pear) and caramel/crème brûlée, as well as some vanilla. The palate is then more on the spicy and woody side. The alcohol is well integrated. The finish is between short and medium length. Somehow nothing special or something that sticks in the memory.
Review by mto75
I couldn't find out anything about the marque right now, but certainly low-medium ester level. On the nose, the pop is more on the spicy side with allspice, cask, but also fruit base, baking spices and pineapple. Spicy and tasty on the palate. Overall, no wow effect, but a tasty and relaxed sipper.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4670 25.03.2024 Relaxing while my first vacation day comes to an end. Nose Fresh, light roasted wood, fruity, ester, light olive. Palate Light roasted wood, fruity, ester,light olive, floral, light anise, medium dry. Finish Medium long, wood, light roasted, pineapple, light anise, medium dry, light salty. The empty glass has some dried fruit, light coffee and faint toffee.
Review by Leo Krüper
Quite alcoholic, expressive Hampden. Nevertheless, quite short on the finish. Good value for money in today's market. Possibly suitable for Hampden beginners. Even on second tasting, not a knockout Hampden. Rather below average at a very high level.
Review by Timo Groeger
In 3.5 hours the plane leaves for the Caribbean, so 3 small rums to go. Then a Hampden. Esters are barely noticeable here, instead many overripe tropical fruits, especially banana and pineapple.
Review by Lot-NAS
A real chameleon, initially the nose was kind of strange and the palate ok. After some time the nose opened up really nice with some spices, wood and a subtle funkiness. The palate on the other hand got a little bit too bitter and astringent for my liking. Some fruits are also missing. Oh and I recommend a few drops of water to soften it a bit. Overall it’s nice but also a skippable release..
Review by Mentalo
The alcohol is well integrated. A few subtle fruit notes, some olive, spices, and wood. The finish is rather short with a more pronounced bitterness. A very decent OWH, but it can't quite keep up with the great bottling from Roots.
Review by zabo
Since I'm actually always very biased towards Swell bottlings, especially when it comes to value for money, this one still surprised me. As a mixer, I find it even better than neat.
Review by Jakob
Exciting mystery bag – surprisingly spicy-smoky on the nose, the otherwise so typical fruit notes play second fiddle. On the palate pleasantly balanced, the smoky aroma is noticeable but does not overwhelm the profile, rather fits well into an overall complex but nevertheless quite balanced profile. Subjectively, I'm not a fan of smoky aromas, but those who like that and can also appreciate Jamaican rums are well served here.
Review by Johannes
A very good low ester Hampden. Not very fruity, rather astringent. I would guess OWH. Has similarities to a Clarendon.
Review by Christian Rudt
Today a Low Ester Hampden with this OWH in the glass. The nose is very typical of Hampden with overripe fruit, especially pineapple and banana, plus a nice barrel influence with plenty of vanilla. The palate is more on the spicy side. Fruits are present but far less dominant. It is actually slightly furry, which I find less appealing here, but the bitterness is good for the rum.
Review by alex
I’m surprised by the profile, being used to Hampden, with this pastry-like apple/pear side that stays well on the nose and tasting, it’s surprising. But indeed quite nice. For the finish, it’s moderately long.
Review by Basti
Tropical ripe fruits on the nose, but also citrus fruits and some menthol. On the palate trop. Fruit, olive and licorice. Solid OWH. All in all very harmonious, but nothing you don't know yet.
Review by Jacques etdom
Nose of very ripe fruit (apple, pear, banana, pineapple, a little mango side), a beautiful woodiness and a bit of varnish. On the palate, it's a fruit compote, a bit of caramel, wood and a surprising fruity sensation like armagnac with a little rancio. It's extremely indulgent for a Hampden. Quite a long finish. Personally, I love it, a big favorite. I didn't expect that much!
Review by Pavel Spacek
Hampden, legendary Jamaican distillery, which besides rum also produces alcohol for perfumes. In all rums from this distillery you can feel wild esters, after which your whole body soaks in the scent of yellow tropical fruit - mango, papaya, pineapple, peach. One of the rums you "must try before you die".
Review by BnBrt
Nose of white fruit, apple and pear. Quite surprising for a hampden. An idea of tarte tatin. Completely enchanting on the palate, quite unexpected from the nose. Seems to fill out everything up to the nose, we find a little of the hampden funk but on less exotic fruit (still white fruit, apple and pear) and a little floral. Quite tannic, the barrel then arrives, still with a tarte tatin feeling. The finish is a little short, which is a pity!
Review by Maxime Clr 🇫🇷
Light esters on the nose, banana, pineapple, vanilla, pear, soap. On the palate it is powerful in alcohol but not so much in esters. Pineapple, spices and bitterness are present. I like it moderately, nothing exceptional in this bottle.
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Community shelf
41 bottles logged by 34 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
19% opened, 1 emptied.
What did the community pay for Swell de Spirits Hampden POP’ Series N°1 (Inter Caves France) 2012?
Community paid 115–121 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 116 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
41 purchased · 38 tasted · 5 wishlist · as of
Details about Swell de Spirits Hampden POP’ Series N°1 (Inter Caves France) 2012
A rum from Jamaica, bottled by Swell de Spirits, at 59.1%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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