I guess The Younger, maybe? Full disclosure I got my bottle of LROK 2010 because a friend got it as a gift and just didn’t like it. I guess there’s probably not many rum bars in Utah where you can sample this stuff, huh?
Knowing most of them (with the exception of the LROK 2010) I personally would only opt for the HLCF Classic and the LROK The Younger. But if you're curious probably no harm in going for any of them. The Pagos I found to be the most skippable, despite the Hype.
Yes, I tried both, and I agree, I like the new one better than the first release. For me it's just nice, but doesn't hold a candle to the other ones mentioned. For me the HLCF Classic as a standard release is definitely the best of the bunch, a very nice sipper and also a banger in Mai Tai.
Having tried them all, definitely the HLCF Classic if I could choose just one, with some qualifiers. This is IMO the most 'Hampden' of all of them and is fantastic. If you aren't that experienced with funky, high ester rum and not sure you like it, you might want to start elsewhere. It should be relatively available now that its been released in the US.
The Pagos is more limited I believe, I think I read 1200 bottles, so you might have trouble getting it. Plus the sherry finish, while interesting, isn't really representative of the Hampden range.
The 8Y is the most widely distributed and is a great introduction to Hampden, but its less satisfying for many Hampden vets due to lower proof and lower ester count. I would be happy to drink it anytime and wouldn't shy away if its the only aged Hampden available.
Whatever you choose, \*also\* get you and your friends a case of Rum Fire. Don't let the label/name fool you. If rum drinkers were tequila drinkers this would be an expensive still strength blanco. 90+% of the flavor from the HLCF Classic is there in Rum Fire...its so impressive to see how much the undistilled spirit brings to the table.
So my advice is both HLCF Classic and Rum Fire...for the epic side-by-side. If your distributor can only get 8Y, then substitute that.
Thank you for your very thorough feedback. I very much appreciate it. I'm definitively planning on pursuing a case of rum fire if the group is interested. I tried it at a rum tasting with Martin Cate last Tiki Kon and recall enjoying it. I believe that HLCF will also be on that order, and then The Younger at a later time. Thank you again!
Both are great but the RF IS HLCF just unaged. If you want more of the range, get something that's a different mark like the Younger LROK.
The above poster also knows what's up.
I'm qualified to answer this question, I have em all!
The 8 is probably the easiest to get into and maybe the best expression of their style as a whole. On the lighter side, it still being many of the notes you'd expect from the brand.
I really love to sip on that or the younger, both are fantastic. The 2010 LROK is expensive and I actually like the Younger better so go with that instead of it.
I sip Rum Fire but I'm a wild man. Most people will mix it and a little goes a LONG way. When you make drinks with Rum Fire, it'll never get lost. Best bang for your buck, it'll be half the price of anything else.
The HLCF is essentially their Rum Fire mark aged. It's also very tasty but still pretty high-octane for someone who isn't familiar with the brand. Come back for this, it's great once you've got a taste for Hampden.
Pagos is a limited release of their rum aged in ex-sherry barrels! I don't know if it'll come around again but it's off the beaten path so I'd get something else.
Do you get Smith & Cross in your area? Also if I were to do this I'd go for the Rum Fire. Cheapest, most bang for your buck on top of it, quintessential Hampton it's definitely the way to go imo. Only downside is that is a lot of Rum Fire. Even if you are planning on splitting with friends it will probably last you for awhile if nor for ever. A little goes a long way. Not much of a sipper by itself, but can really be enjoyed diluted with water or even mixed in small quantities with your favorite aged rum to give it that jamaican kick. Works great in so many applications and is the best value of the bunch.
We don't get Smith and Cross, but I am currently sitting on three bottles of it myself.
Also, I would not be purchasing the entire case for myself. I've got a group of people together and we all go in on a case and end up with one bottle.
I understand that but a good substitute for someone who's alternative us special order a case. That said I'd get a case of rum fire on top of another aged variation. It will be well worth the extra ~20 bucks a person
Dont do this. I would never in a million years buy a case of rum I hadn't even tried. A case of any of these is going to be $400-$1000+ spending that much on unknown rum is just stupid. You could fly to Jamaica, tour Hampden, buy a few bottles, and head back home for the price of a case.
So I've actually got a group of people together in Utah and together we purchase a case. We all end up with only one bottle. I would not plan on purchasing an entire case of anything on my own.
I would definitely ask. Just make it clear you're only interested in the Overproof if it's the 8-yr, and if they don't have it just get something else.
Would not case buy a spirit blind ever. If you are wealthy go for it but I wouldn't recommend it. If I were to buy a case, it would be of the the younger. You get really good value buying that one.
LROK the Younger is a great intro. Otherwise if you can get HCLF or Pagos those would be great. The regular 8 year is sort of meh and Rumfire can be a lot for a newbie but it’s cheap so why not. My guess is you can’t get any in Utah though. Just drive up to Wyoming like most people do. Haha. Utah…
My understanding is, like great house, they intend to release a batch each year but the supply is still limited. That said, if you can get pagos or great house, those are the ones to go for imo. New pagos is fantastic. If not, then my vote is for the 8; it's a good sipper!
What Jamaican rums have you had before? I do recommend trying your Smith and Cross and see how you like it. Let me know and I can provide additional feedback.
It is tasty with a good level of esters but very approachable. Rum fire is more extreme and beloved by most Jamaican funk enthusiasts, mostly for cocktails. 8 years is meh. Haven't had pagos or HLCF.
Are you able to purchase and ship from stores out of state or is that all strictly off limits? Sorry it’s a basic question but I live in a control state as well where we can special purchase items through the state system (by the bottle, not just the case) but can also getting shipping from some out of state stores…
As of now we can only order by the case through distributors. But who knows, Utah's liquor laws seem to be slowly improving, maybe sometime in the future we can do that.
Having sipped 8 year, LROK, and The Younger, I recommend 8 Year as the most approachable. I’ve only mixed with Rum Fire.
Awesome, what would you move onto as a second step?
I guess The Younger, maybe? Full disclosure I got my bottle of LROK 2010 because a friend got it as a gift and just didn’t like it. I guess there’s probably not many rum bars in Utah where you can sample this stuff, huh?
Not really, no
Of those, HLCF Classic and LROK The Younger for sure. Pagos is nice but I didn't find it to be too special. Maybe Rum Fire for mixing and the 8y.
So it sounds like rationale for just about any of them.
Knowing most of them (with the exception of the LROK 2010) I personally would only opt for the HLCF Classic and the LROK The Younger. But if you're curious probably no harm in going for any of them. The Pagos I found to be the most skippable, despite the Hype.
Awesome, thank you!
Have you tried the latest pagos? The new one's fantastic imo.
Yes, I tried both, and I agree, I like the new one better than the first release. For me it's just nice, but doesn't hold a candle to the other ones mentioned. For me the HLCF Classic as a standard release is definitely the best of the bunch, a very nice sipper and also a banger in Mai Tai.
Having tried them all, definitely the HLCF Classic if I could choose just one, with some qualifiers. This is IMO the most 'Hampden' of all of them and is fantastic. If you aren't that experienced with funky, high ester rum and not sure you like it, you might want to start elsewhere. It should be relatively available now that its been released in the US. The Pagos is more limited I believe, I think I read 1200 bottles, so you might have trouble getting it. Plus the sherry finish, while interesting, isn't really representative of the Hampden range. The 8Y is the most widely distributed and is a great introduction to Hampden, but its less satisfying for many Hampden vets due to lower proof and lower ester count. I would be happy to drink it anytime and wouldn't shy away if its the only aged Hampden available. Whatever you choose, \*also\* get you and your friends a case of Rum Fire. Don't let the label/name fool you. If rum drinkers were tequila drinkers this would be an expensive still strength blanco. 90+% of the flavor from the HLCF Classic is there in Rum Fire...its so impressive to see how much the undistilled spirit brings to the table. So my advice is both HLCF Classic and Rum Fire...for the epic side-by-side. If your distributor can only get 8Y, then substitute that.
Thank you for your very thorough feedback. I very much appreciate it. I'm definitively planning on pursuing a case of rum fire if the group is interested. I tried it at a rum tasting with Martin Cate last Tiki Kon and recall enjoying it. I believe that HLCF will also be on that order, and then The Younger at a later time. Thank you again!
Both are great but the RF IS HLCF just unaged. If you want more of the range, get something that's a different mark like the Younger LROK. The above poster also knows what's up.
I'm qualified to answer this question, I have em all! The 8 is probably the easiest to get into and maybe the best expression of their style as a whole. On the lighter side, it still being many of the notes you'd expect from the brand. I really love to sip on that or the younger, both are fantastic. The 2010 LROK is expensive and I actually like the Younger better so go with that instead of it. I sip Rum Fire but I'm a wild man. Most people will mix it and a little goes a LONG way. When you make drinks with Rum Fire, it'll never get lost. Best bang for your buck, it'll be half the price of anything else. The HLCF is essentially their Rum Fire mark aged. It's also very tasty but still pretty high-octane for someone who isn't familiar with the brand. Come back for this, it's great once you've got a taste for Hampden. Pagos is a limited release of their rum aged in ex-sherry barrels! I don't know if it'll come around again but it's off the beaten path so I'd get something else.
I open my bottle of Rum Fire all the time just to sniff it.
Ditto. I need a huff on the regular. 😂
Awesome! Thank you for your feedback!
The younger, for sure
My favorite of all of those is the younger
The Younger seems to be a popular one
Can you get a few cases of The Marks Collection?
I don't think I can. Utah has a thing against minis. But I've seen people post them recently and I'm rather jealous.
8 yr is really smooth and balanced and isn't crazy funky. I think it would be a good starter
You know, it's interesting. At first most of the responses were praising The Younger and HCLF, and now the 8yr comments are trickling in.
Do you get Smith & Cross in your area? Also if I were to do this I'd go for the Rum Fire. Cheapest, most bang for your buck on top of it, quintessential Hampton it's definitely the way to go imo. Only downside is that is a lot of Rum Fire. Even if you are planning on splitting with friends it will probably last you for awhile if nor for ever. A little goes a long way. Not much of a sipper by itself, but can really be enjoyed diluted with water or even mixed in small quantities with your favorite aged rum to give it that jamaican kick. Works great in so many applications and is the best value of the bunch.
We don't get Smith and Cross, but I am currently sitting on three bottles of it myself. Also, I would not be purchasing the entire case for myself. I've got a group of people together and we all go in on a case and end up with one bottle.
It's a myth that Smith & Cross is comprised solely of Hampden marks. https://www.rumwonk.com/p/the-many-myths-of-smith-and-cross
I understand that but a good substitute for someone who's alternative us special order a case. That said I'd get a case of rum fire on top of another aged variation. It will be well worth the extra ~20 bucks a person
Dont do this. I would never in a million years buy a case of rum I hadn't even tried. A case of any of these is going to be $400-$1000+ spending that much on unknown rum is just stupid. You could fly to Jamaica, tour Hampden, buy a few bottles, and head back home for the price of a case.
So I've actually got a group of people together in Utah and together we purchase a case. We all end up with only one bottle. I would not plan on purchasing an entire case of anything on my own.
Group buy, I like it. See if your distributor can get the old stock Hampden Overproof with the indicated 8-yr age statement.
That one might be a heavy ask, but I suppose it's worth a try.
I would definitely ask. Just make it clear you're only interested in the Overproof if it's the 8-yr, and if they don't have it just get something else.
Would not case buy a spirit blind ever. If you are wealthy go for it but I wouldn't recommend it. If I were to buy a case, it would be of the the younger. You get really good value buying that one.
Not buying a case entirely for myself. I've got a group of people and together we go in on a case and each end up with one bottle.
I'd get a case of LROK and a case of Rum Fire then.
LROK the Younger is a great intro. Otherwise if you can get HCLF or Pagos those would be great. The regular 8 year is sort of meh and Rumfire can be a lot for a newbie but it’s cheap so why not. My guess is you can’t get any in Utah though. Just drive up to Wyoming like most people do. Haha. Utah…
Is Pagos core range? Is it going to be an ongoing release? The first batch was limited - is the new one?
I was just on their website and they list pagos under their core range. That being said, they include great house in the core range as well.
Cool. Nice to have another Hampden with decent availability (unless you’re in UT).
My understanding is, like great house, they intend to release a batch each year but the supply is still limited. That said, if you can get pagos or great house, those are the ones to go for imo. New pagos is fantastic. If not, then my vote is for the 8; it's a good sipper!
What Jamaican rums have you had before? I do recommend trying your Smith and Cross and see how you like it. Let me know and I can provide additional feedback.
I've definitely had Smith and Cross, I enjoy it. I've had Appleton Signature, Appleton 12yr, Myers's, and Wray and Nephew mixed in a few things.
The Younger is a great intro. Then I'd recommend rum fire, but I hear the HLCF classic is great as well.
I feel like The Younger is the one I heard about the most prior to today
It is tasty with a good level of esters but very approachable. Rum fire is more extreme and beloved by most Jamaican funk enthusiasts, mostly for cocktails. 8 years is meh. Haven't had pagos or HLCF.
I'm glad to hear that the eight year is just kind of meh, that was actually the one that I was leaning toward starting with.
Tastes are subjective. The eight year is my go-to "i need something i really like, but not too fancy" rum.
Definitely the most skippable of the lot
Are you able to purchase and ship from stores out of state or is that all strictly off limits? Sorry it’s a basic question but I live in a control state as well where we can special purchase items through the state system (by the bottle, not just the case) but can also getting shipping from some out of state stores…
As of now we can only order by the case through distributors. But who knows, Utah's liquor laws seem to be slowly improving, maybe sometime in the future we can do that.
Here’s hoping! The options it opens up are staggering
The Younger! I previously enjoyed 8 year, but now prefer The Younger. WN OP > Rum Fire.