Hampden - The Younger - LROK 2016 - 47%
Hampden Estate is one of the oldest and most iconic sugar plantations in Jamaica, founded in 1753 under the ownership of Mr. Archibald Stirling from Scotland. In 1779, Mr. Stirling built the famous Hampden Great House, whose ground floor served as a rum warehouse until the early 20th century. The Farquarson family expertly managed the estate, producing sugar and rum until 2003, when the site came under the management of the Jamaica Sugar Company. Renowned for having some of the most fertile lands for sugarcane cultivation in Jamaica, Hampden produces the largest quantity of sugar from milled cane. Historically, Hampden rums were exclusively destined for export to Europe, notably England and Scotland. In 2009, Everglades Farms Ltd, owned by the Hussey family, acquired the estate through a divestment operation of the Jamaica Sugar Company’s assets, which was owned by the Jamaican government. Since this acquisition, Everglades Farms has heavily invested in modernizing the distillery, generating many jobs in Trelawny and bringing major infrastructure to over 17 local communities and schools.
The key element of Hampden’s production lies in the exclusive use of an autonomous mountain water collection system, ensuring exceptional water quality throughout the process, with a final discharge of perfectly clean water back into nature. The fermentation is long and natural thanks to the use of indigenous yeasts, bringing a unique aromatic complexity. Hampden Estate is one of the few distilleries in the world to preserve the traditional batch distillation, currently operating four stills, including a historic 1960 John Dore still with a capacity of 7,560 liters. The rums benefit from prolonged tropical aging, exceeding 7 years under the Jamaican climate, which is equivalent to more than 25 years of maturation in a temperate European climate. This method gives the rum an incomparable concentration and aromatic depth. Hampden products are made, aged, and bottled without any additives: no added sugar, tannins, caramel, or glycerin, ensuring authentic and natural quality.
The Younger is a sparkling rum, aged 5 years in the unique tropical conditions of Jamaica. Bearing the LROK mark, it features a remarkable ester content, with 314.8 g/hLPA, guaranteeing intense aromas and exceptional richness, characteristic of Hampden rums.
