Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre. You might be forgiven for thinking I have already reviewed this. I haven’t the rum I reviewed very recently with a very similar title was JMM rather than JMH. The JMM and JMH I am now assuming to mean JaMaica Monymusk and JaMaica Hampden. As this particular single cask bottling hails from the Hampden Estate, Trelawny, Jamaica.

There has been no shortage of continentally aged Hampden Estate available for a number of years. In fact until very recently Hampden Estate had never released an aged product. Sounds mad when you think about it but it’s true. Until very recently the only official Hampden Estate release was Rum Fire. An unaged Jamaican Overproof rum.

The reputation of Hampden Estate rum was built very much on the numerous bottlings sold by various (largely) European based Independent bottlers. Thompson Bros have come slightly late to this particular party but in fairness it’s looking like this could be a week long rave………The appetite for aged Hampden Estate rum, particularly single casks, seems to have no sign of abating.

I am sure official distillery bottles such as The Great House and collaborations with Habitation Velier sell very well. However, there is still a great deal of kudos to be earned in certain rum circles from owning more exclusive “single cask” bottlings. Some people try to obtain every release. I’ve tried my fair share of Hampden over the years. I like it without question. However like all other rums I’ve never felt the need to go chasing down individuals casks (often from the same batch).  The differences in the overall experience just wouldn’t merit engaging in such a task.

Anyway that all went a little of piste but to be honest having reviewed a few Thompson Bros bottlings. Including one just last week – I find I sometimes need to cover something a little different in these reviews. To keep things interesting – I hope.

Anyhow, we’ll cover the pertinent information for this particular bottling. As mentioned we have a Single Cask Rum from Hampden Estate, Jamaica. It was distilled in 2001, so is likely the Diamond H marque (please note I can’t use the arrows used to denote this by Hampden as WordPress has a hissy fit and it affects all the formatting).

For those who are interested in this sort of thing the Diamond H marque sits at around 900-1000 gr/hl AA or Esters. The Ester count for Hampden rum is anywhere from 40-1600 gr/hl AA. Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre has been bottled at Cask Strength of 61% ABV. The outturn was 271 bottles. It is 100% Pot Still Jamaican Rum and has been aged for 19 years. The exact locations are not revealed.

As with the previous Jamaican JMM review this is a collaboration between Thompson Bros and Bar Tre, Hiroshima. As a result local Japanese artist Yu Kurahashi. When released (around a week ago) this retailed at around the £140 mark. I’m afraid I can’t find anywhere that still has this for sale. So secondary market again.

I do suspect you will find a few of these pop up at auction. I think a number of Whisky speculators are chancing their arm at rum. Some have little idea what they are doing. I’m not suggesting that is the case here but unless this bottle gets some kind of mythical status very quickly – I honestly cannot see you having to pay much more (if at all) than retail on the secondary market.

In the glass we are presented with a light golden brown spirit a shade darker than straw.

Nosing Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre it has a very sweet fruity aroma to it. Pineapples, banana, some passion fruit, white grapes and some lychees. Beneath this sweetness is a very “gluey” aroma – kind of like that thick white glue you used to use in school. A touch of Pritt Stick is thrown in for good measure.

There are notes of cider vinegar and vinegar soaked newspapers (used for wrapping Fish and Chips here in the UK- well they were once upon a time). There is a nice tingle on the nose of oak and a touch of all spice.

This is a very fruity version of a Hampden and reminds me of Long Pond. Which is no bad thing……..

The initial sip of this rum is very complicated. There is so much going on. Sweet, sour, and savoury all at the same time! It delivers a slightly tart, acidic but yet very sweet mix of citrus fruit and vinegar. Trust me it tastes better than it sounds……

There is more wood and spice on the mid palate and the rum leaves a very unusual mixture of nail varnish remover, Pear Drops (boiled sweets with a

very distinct taste) and crystallised fruits. It’s slightly musty on the mid palate as well but all these seemingly different flavour sensations someone meld together into a very enjoyable and very funky glass of rum.

This seems to combine elements of young unaged Jamaican rum with more aged and developed notes. It’s really quite an intriguing rum. It’s certainly a little bit out there to say the least.

Finish wise its long and full of all kinds of notes – there is a slightly fermented note which mixes alongside the oak, white pepper and the slightly tart notes of gooseberries and pineapple juice.

This really does offer something a little different. Apologies I couldn’t get a review out before it sold out. I do try my best.

Best of luck at the auctions I guess for this one.