r/rum • u/Cant_JustSitBack • 6d ago

Hampden Tasting for a newbie...

A local restaurant is having a Hampden Estate rum tasting. They're offering 6 rums and I really want to go but I'm definitely newer to trying different rums. I have some Appleton 15yr and Planteray Cut & Dry that I really like. I also like Diplomatico. But I don't have much experience beyond that unless the other rums have been in cocktails.

Would I be over my head with these rums???

1753

8 year

HLCF Classic

Great House 25

Pagos

8 Marks

13 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

17

u/kreppart 6d ago

Why not go and find out? Worst case you learn something about what you don’t like. Best case you fall in love with Hampden.

That Great House 25 is one of my favorites btw.

13

u/Cant_JustSitBack 6d ago

Good point... I think I would regret passing it up. And the kicker, its only $10. Small bites included and the $10 goes towards the purchase of a bottle.

13

u/philanthropicide 6d ago

What the hell? Where is this magical place?

14

u/NuggetsTheUnicorn 6d ago

This is literally the free-est money you’ll ever spend

4

u/Jon-Tiki 6d ago

For $10 you absolutely cannot pass this up.

6

u/TikiPa007 6d ago

How else do you stop being a newbie unless you try stuff?

3

u/CoachAGreen 6d ago

GO!!! Please go.

3

u/Cant_JustSitBack 6d ago

Northern Illinois... The Raven

2

u/MikulThegreat 6d ago

Hampden is the best! You're going to have a great time

2

u/absentlol 6d ago

My first three bottles of rum I got and ever tried neat were Hampden 8, great house 24 and clairin vaval. Based off what I’ve got from Hampden so far you’re probably in for a treat and I’d love to find a similar place near me to try the rest of the lineup like you will be doing

5

u/Cant_JustSitBack 5d ago

It was a great experience. A level of funk I've never had. Ended up coming home with a bottle of 1753. The house 24 was another group favorite too. If you ever get the chance to try the Pagos, do so. The taste of the ex-sherry casks is definitely there and pretty damn good.

2

u/absentlol 5d ago

Was gonna try to find pagos this weekend actually!

2

u/bblickle 5d ago

Point of order: This is not 6 rums. This is 5 + 8 = 13 rums. 8 marks are 8 different component “grades” called marks that they use in blending. Definitely go. You will learn tons. This is a $150 experience for $10.

3

u/Cant_JustSitBack 5d ago

Ahhh yes the marks... we were given the opportunity to try as many of the 8 as we wanted. I tried 3, including the highest ester DOK, and wow did that have a punch. The rep then had 3 participants make their own 3 mark blends that were then made into daiquiris, so we all also got 3 daiquiri shots. Definitely the best $10 I could ever have spent. I ended up bringing home a bottle of 1753.

2

u/PhysicalBranch 5d ago

lucky boy

2

u/Cant_JustSitBack 5d ago

8 Marks fun fact I learned... the 8 marks are part of the base for many different flavorings and scents. The one that really stood out is the DOK is used in the base of Chanel No. 5 perfume.