Each year, The Whisky Exchange team samples hundreds of exceptional spirits, but only one earns our prestigious Spirit of the Year award. This year’s winner is Hampden Estate rum from Jamaica for their 1753 expression.
In October 2025, Hurricane Melissa brought widespread destruction to Jamaica. To support our Jamaican friends in their recovery and rebuilding efforts, TWE are contributing £6 to hurricane relief charities for each bottle of 1753 purchased.
As a Hampden Rum enthusiast, I was thrilled when they began importing to Israel, and naturally delighted to have the opportunity to try another expression. The Hampden Estate 1753 takes its name from the year the distillery officially commenced operations. This rum is crafted from molasses, produced using Hampden’s traditional pot stills, and matured for three years in Jamaica in former bourbon barrels.
30 sec about Hampden : Hampden Estate’s story began in the mid-1700s with the founding of a sugar plantation in Trelawney parish, located one mile from Jamaica’s northern shoreline. While there are indications that distillation may have occurred earlier, records confirm that Archibald Stirling was producing both sugar and rum at the site from 1753 onward. In 1779, Stirling constructed the Hampden Great House on the property—a structure that remains standing today and has been commemorated with its own special rum release. The estate flourished over time, though it experienced periods of both prosperity and decline through the centuries. A significant milestone came in 2018 when Hampden Estate launched its first official commercial bottlings, making its distinctive funky Jamaican rum accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.
Hampden Estate 1753 , 46% abv , £57 (TWE)
Nose : Quintessential Jamaican funk: notes of overripe bananas and banana skins alongside pineapple candy, mango, polished leather, and vanilla custard. Banana is the star here, evolving into foam banana confectionery and decadent banana loaf.
Palate: Sugary sweetness reminiscent of barley sugar and banana, with emerging warming spices of cinnamon and clove. Mid-palate brings hints of tar and freshly crushed mint, framed by aniseed sweets and spiced fruit bread packed with raisins, sultanas, and candied citrus zest.
Finish : Fresh leafy greens and mint gradually recede, giving way to dark chocolate and lingering banana.
Summary : A delightful rum for cold wintery nights. Also very easy drinking stuff at 46% abv. if you ask me 😉
Nice stiff at a decent price. available on the TWE website for £57.