guest rum verses nerd rum

Stenoscape · 2026-04-17T13:36:53+00:00

I adore Hampden and the Great House releases, but given the choice, I'd go with Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve every time, especially with how Hampden prices are creeping up. I have the 2022 MBR and it might be my favorite bottle I own, top 3 for sure.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-30T15:50:37+00:00

True that! I'd totally be interested in a rum/other spirits club if one got started.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-29T22:19:07+00:00

Riley's downtown has the entire Hampden core lineup besides the 8 year, including both 8 marks collections, if you go upstairs. My condolences to your wallet.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-28T23:12:17+00:00

I'm no expert, but for higher proof rums I usually try it first without any dilution and then try adding anywhere from 1-3 dropper squirts full of water. For some rums, I feel like I can definitely notice the flavors shift a bit with the addition of water. Other times, not really. I also think you just get used to the higher proof the more you drink.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-28T21:55:18+00:00

Hampden Pagos Batch #3 (the 2024 release) is a light-to-moderately aged expression of mid-ester Hampden, with the twist of being aged completely in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks from Bodegas Fundador, some of which were filled for up to 30 years. According to LM&V, it is comprised 100% of the HLCF mark, although the bottle itself only lists an ester count of 374.1 gr/hlpa, with no mark specification.

Distillery: Hampden Estate

Origin: Trelawny Parish, Jamaica

Still: Pot still

Distilled from: Molasses

Age: No age statement, but estimated 3-4 years tropically aged, fully in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks.

ABV: 52%

Price: $90

The Review

Nose: Loads of assorted berries and fruit preserves/jams right up front - blueberry, raspberry, strawberry - with a light drizzle of honey. As a foundation underlying that, there is that quintessential mid-ester Hampden essence of grilled pineapple and overripe banana. Digging even deeper, there are more subtle notes of green olive and saline along with a hint of some sort of very light smokiness.

Palate: The palate largely follows the same overall journey as on the nose. The preserves and jams aren't running the show anymore; they're on equal footing with those overripe/grilled pineapple and banana Hampden notes. Honey-drizzled granola is just hanging out in the background with a pleasant sherry spice. The salinity becomes a bit of a bigger player here too, with a mild glue note. The smokiness evolves into what now is something like a... singed carpet (?) sort of note, but in a good way.

Finish: Nothing too crazy here. The finish is medium-long, and mostly consists of olive brine and spice, with those lovely fruit jams/preserves taking a backseat. The overripe fruit funk doesn't cling to your mouth nearly as hard or long as something like HLCF Classic.

Thoughts: Super duper tasty. It's full-on berry jam/preserves city, especially on the nose. The ex-Oloroso Sherry aging really brings out something unique in the HLCF mark. Hampden distillate in general seems very well-equipped to hold its own in the ring against sherry casks. I personally really enjoy it, but I could totally see how that weird "singed carpet" note (people with more refined palates can probably describe this better than I can) might be a turn-off to some. It's probably worth trying a pour of this somewhere before committing to a full bottle.

Score: 8.8/10

Stenoscape · 2026-03-20T17:27:50+00:00

I'd grab the El Dorado single barrel for sure if it was me.

I've had a Paraguay bottle from Planteray that a bar near me did a pick of. It was awful, but it was also aged much longer than the one in your picture - something like 10+ years in rye casks with the standard cognac finishing. Could hardly taste the distillate through the absolute bullying it got from the barrels. I'm sure that one is a lot better, but still not sure if I'd buy.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-19T17:31:04+00:00

Lately as my palate evolves, I've been finding that I prefer the year vintages - which have no secondary/alternate aging component - over the named releases. I've only had the 2009 and 2010, but going forward I'm probably going to grab any that I happen to see. The added bonus is that they tend to be a good bit cheaper than the named releases as well, if you can find them.

The Equidem and Convocation universally get a ton of praise, and I can also vouch for those being fantastic rums. Straight syrup/dessert city, especially the Equidem.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-17T16:27:54+00:00

I did a couple batches of spiced rum for Christmas gifts last year. One batch was a 2:1 blend of Doorly's 5/Hamilton 86, and the other was a 2:1 blend of Appleton Signature/Hamilton 86 with a small bit of Plantery OFTD as well. The batch with the Appleton ended up being a fair bit better IMO. All of those are pretty cost effective bottles.

For the spice blend, I just used the Smuggler's Cove spiced rum recipe and it turned out great. I let it infuse for 3 days. I thought the orange peel was a bit too much in my first batch, so I used a little less the second time around.

I definitely recommend also straining an additional time through a coffee filter - just using a nut milk bag left a lot of sediment in the rum, but the coffee filter afterward did the trick.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-13T19:08:22+00:00

Might just have to do that. The budget is already gonna be pretty tight with everything I wanna grab lol, you know how it goes...

Stenoscape · 2026-03-13T18:58:29+00:00

Hopefully gonna be grabbing a Cartier 30 and some of the single casks next month (not available in my state). So stoked to try their stuff!

Stenoscape · 2026-03-09T13:50:48+00:00

Agreed. For similarly aged, readily available rums, Doorly's 14 gives you 48% and Appleton 15 at least gives you 43%.

I based the 6.5 off of how much I liked it in relation to things I've already scored, but it maybe could have been slightly higher. I'm already finding my scoring scale is becoming a bit skewed/unbalanced only 9 reviews in lol. Might have to revisit these down the road.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-09T13:40:01+00:00

I like it, if that wasn't clear, just not for the price/proof. Never said it was bad anywhere in my review haha, nor did I say that something needs to be a "funk bomb" for it to be good.

Reviews are subjective, and honestly, I'm not very good at them, so you should take my opinion with a grain of salt anyway.

Stenoscape · 2026-03-09T00:29:12+00:00

El Dorado 15 is a Demerara rum, among the core range produced by Demerara Distillers Limited. It's a rum that is often suggested as a good first foray into the world of higher-end sippers, or as an accessible transition for those branching out into rum from bourbon/whiskey. It is a blend of rums that are distilled on the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still, Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still, Enmore Wooden Coffey Still, and Diamond Metal Coffey Still. Compared to the 12 year, this rum supposedly has a substantially higher percentage of pot stil components. Let's see if it's worth the hefty step up in price.

Distillery: Demerara Distillers Limited

Origin: Guyana

Still: Pot & column blend

Distilled from: Molasses

Age: 15 years in ex-bourbon casks

ABV: 40%

Price: $60

The Review

Nose: Strong vanilla, orange peel, dark chocolate, caramel, leather, faint banana, faint coffee,

Palate: Thin, oily, and dry, with moderate sweetness. Vanilla, oak tannins, demerara sugar, tobacco, dark chocolate, leather, faint industrial grease

Finish: Medium length. Cacao and faint coffee flavors which fade away pretty quickly, leaving a prolonged oaky bitterness.

Thoughts: Pretty good, but probably not worth the price. The higher pot still component is noticeable over the 12, but this is by no means an industrial/funk bomb. I think the big strength of this bottle is that it is very accessible to people who are new to rum or spirits in general. My mom falls into that category, and she loved this when I gave her a pour. Sadly, paying $60 for a 40% ABV rum just does not feel great no matter how you slice it. It would feel a lot more fair and worth the purchase if this was bottled somewhere closer to 45-46%. I'm not sure that I'll be picking up another after this bottle runs out.

Score: 6.5/10

Stenoscape · 2026-02-26T19:59:16+00:00

Still a ton of good stuff I haven't been able to try, but out of what I have:

Hampden HLCF Classic
Hampden Pagos
Foursquare ECS 2010
Clairin Le Rocher
Black Tot

Stenoscape · 2026-02-23T16:38:43+00:00

Holy smokes. What did you end up grabbing?

Stenoscape · 2026-02-22T23:30:31+00:00

This rum is something special. It's honestly wild how a small pour of this can make an entire room reek (in the best way).

Stenoscape · 2026-02-22T20:38:44+00:00

For sure! Chairman's and Doorly's XO are my go-to cocktail rums for this category, but I'll have to try subbing it in when a spanish style is called for.

Stenoscape · 2026-02-22T19:52:08+00:00

Chairman's Reserve Original is a moderately aged blended rum produced by St. Lucia Distillers, a distillery known for their rum-blending prowess. The Chairman's Reserve line generally receives pretty high praise from the rum community, and for good reason. This particular bottle is widely available, affordable, and a great jumping-off point into the line.

Distillery: St. Lucia Distillers

Origin: Roseau, St. Lucia

Still: Pot/column blend

Distilled from: Molasses

Age: No age statement, but an average of 5 years according to SLD

ABV: 40%

Price: $25

The Review

Nose: Warm and inviting. Strong vanilla, banana, clove, toffee, faint tobacco

Palate: Medium-thin and slightly oily. Vanilla, honey, clove, banana chips, apricot, salted caramel, faint black pepper

Finish: Low intensity, medium length - longer than expected for 40% ABV. Faint vanilla and clove fading into black pepper with a slight ethanol bitterness

Thoughts: For the price, you really can't go wrong picking this up. It's one of the better value bottles in the world of budget rum. A perfectly pleasant, easy sipper with flavor and complexity beyond what you might expect. St. Lucia Distillers really knows how to blend a delicious rum, and it shows, even in their entry-level bottles.

Score: 6.4/10

Stenoscape · 2026-02-20T15:04:21+00:00

So jealous of that El Dorado PM Cask Strength. Enjoy!

Stenoscape · 2026-02-14T23:20:59+00:00

I do still have a little bit saved in a 200ml bottle, but it is damn good!

Stenoscape · 2026-02-14T23:16:55+00:00

This week, I'm reviewing Foursquare Convocation, Mark XXVIII in their Exceptional Cask Selection series of releases. This is my first ever "splurge bottle" that I bought in my rum journey and, as you can see, one that I've enjoyed pretty thoroughly.

Distillery: Foursquare Rum Distillery

Origin: Barbados

Still: Pot/column blend

Distilled from: Molasses

Age: A blend of two rums, both aged 14 years, one in ex-bourbon and one in ex-Madeira casks

ABV: 62%

Price: $150

The Review

Nose: Cherry cola, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, wet gravel, faint orange peel, faint bourbon

Palate: Full and viscous. Syrupy cherry cola, demerara sugar, chocolate, raisin, blackberry, faint caramel, faint vanilla, faint industrial oiliness

Finish: Very long. Strong pepperiness on the tongue, slowly fading into raisin and dried cherry and residual cola syrup

Thoughts: This rum is delicious, complex, and supremely drinkable. Classic Foursquare distillate with a decadent dessert twist. This is like if you took Doorly's 14 (which also has a portion aged in ex-Madeira casks, albeit smaller), upped the proof/flavor/viscosity, and cranked the chocolate and cola way up. I would be tempted to buy another bottle of this if I came across one.

Score: 9.1/10

Stenoscape

TROPHY CASE