Let’s get started 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. I’m starting with the lowest ester mark, OWH, and I really don’t have any rums that use OWH other than my two sets of 8 Marks, so for now, it’s just going to be the 1 year compared to the unaged, and also Probitas, since that’s a lower ester blend with Hampden and lightly aged, just so that I have some point of comparison.

Review

Smell

So bright and fruity. Even OWH, the lowest mark, is bold on the nose. Pineapple, banana, blueberries. Compared to the unaged, the 1 year has a brighter, bolder nose, so I think that the aging unlocked some more complex flavors. Probitas really doesn’t compare as it has a much stronger vanilla and caramel nose (probably from the foursquare portion), and so the nose is a lot more muted compared to the 1-year-aged OWH.

Taste

The aging is pretty light, but immediately noticeable. It’s slightly tannic, and has a richness and complexity, while the unaged OWH is also fruity, but not as fruity. While the unaged has some pineapple and banana notes as well, it has some unrefined edges to it. It definitely comes across as an unaged rum, and while it’s still delicious, the 1-year just brings a pop of blueberries and caramel on top of the really bold banana and pineapple, and has a retrohale that reminds me a bit of Doctor Bird (even though that’s WP).

With the 1-year OWH vs the Probitas, the OWH puts up a strong fight. It’s much funkier in the drink than the Probitas, so just on that basis, it might win, but on flavor, Probitas is more balanced. It’s hard to describe, but it’s just crisper, it’s more balanced, and it tastes like a rum made for daiquiris. Interestingly, I think the unaged makes a better daiquiri than the 1-year because its young unrefined edges don’t hold it back compared to drinking neat.

Verdict 6.5/10

Overall, it might seem crazy to rate a Hampden the same as an Appleton, but while the daiquiri test was interesting and the two OWH marks actually made great daiquiris, I can’t imagine really pouring either over a cube of ice and sipping on it, while I can (and do) sip on the various Appletons, even if they’re not my first choice. That’s sort of the difficulty of assigning a unified rating to rums with very different purposes. Going forward, I imagine the blends actually for retail sale will fare much better.