Let’s continue with DOKtober! I have way too many Hampden rums waiting around to be reviewed (mostly because after trying Hampden, I can’t really taste anything else for the rest of the evening) and I figured now is a good time to try everything based on its mark. Today I am reviewing the 2nd lowest mark, LFCH, and I also don’t have any pure LFCH marks, but this time I do have two blends that are predominantly LFCH: Hampden Great House 2024 and a Velier 3 Mark Blend.

Review

Smell

The banana and pineapple are super strong, but it’s almost like there is less complexity than the 1-year-aged OWH, which had notes of berries and prunes. However, LFCH just smells lighter and crisper, and has a bit of a spicy cinnamon note as well. It also smells bolder and fruitier than the unaged LFCH.

Taste

The palate is primarily banana, but also kind of bitter with an industrial sharpie note. Much like the nose, the flavor of OWH had more interesting complexity with more heavy berry notes, while LFCH is brighter but also more straightforward. I’d almost say the banana flavor is rather monotone.

In a daiquiri, it also seems like OWH makes a better daiquiri than LFCH. I actually think the unaged LFCH also makes a better daiquiri than the 1-year-aged LFCH. Of course, the single marks pale in comparison to blends like Great House and the 3 mark blend from Velier.

Verdict 5.75/10

Somehow this mark underperformed compared to its neighbors, as I really prefer the 1-year-aged LFCH and 1-year-aged LROK. It’s still good, by all means, but I don’t think it’s even an improvement over the unaged version. Though, when I tasted the unaged, I thought it was better than the unaged OWH and LROK, so maybe it’s just variations within batches?