Review #: 196
Description: Habitation Velier Hampden LROK NY Edition
Spirit: Rum
Background: This is a bottling from the IB Habitation Velier. Distilled at the Hampden Distillery in Jamaica in a pot still, it is of their LROK (Light Rum Owen Kelly) which is their 3rd least “funky” rum, coming in around 300-400 esters gr/hA. It was aged for 9 years entirely in Jamaica in a single cask before being bottled at cask strength without any additives.
Distillery – Hampden
Bottler – Habitation Velier
Brand – Habitation Velier
Selection – N/A
ABV – 59%
Age – 9 Years (all tropical)
Nose – Balance funk/fruit/sweetness, overripe banana, rich caramel, pineapple upside down cake, some rubber
Taste – Vanilla buttercream, banana fosters, simple syrup
Finish – Toasted marshmallow, smoked chocolate, like a cold cigar that previously had been lit, rubber, clove, cinnamon
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? No
Thoughts: This was a perfectly fine Jamaican rum, but it fell short of my expectations. This bottle fetches a premium on the secondary market, but nothing about it jumps out. It’s not super complex and the funk factor comes in more as a rubber taste that isn’t very enjoyable. I think I am realizing that I prefer less age when it comes to funk.