HOLMES CAY JAMAICA 10YR 2014 <>H 62% EX-BOURBON CASKS; SINGLE CASK RUM; BOTTLED 2024; DISTILLED AT HAMPDEN DISTILLERY

Eric Kaye has outdone himself with this new single barrel selection, a stunning combination of singular character and collectible rarity. Pouring a medium orange color with gold flecks, it leads with a nose of immediate, classic hogo funk in a major way. Big industrial notes of petrol and new rubber set against deep aromas of spiced navel orange and ripe, dark red fruit in the background. The aromatic complexity is off the charts and my descriptors are really just an attempt to capture what’s actually impossible to fully describe. Take your time and let your imagination run wild. Time in the glass brings out notes of sweet sandalwood, worn leather, fresh pipe tobacco, and roasted pistachios. As you get further into it, a decidedly fruity dessert profile emerges with clear notes of apple fritter, banana pudding, and orange custard, all tinged by an oddly appealing hint of sweet barbecued meats. The palate is no less mind-boggling with big, expressive esters taking center stage. There’s also a thrilling tension between high-toned flavors of fruit blossoms (apple and lemon) and luxurious, sweet spices. The texture is thoroughly enveloping and assertive with some moderate heat, but I wouldn’t suggest water so as not to dilute the ester-y complexity. The extraordinarily long finish brings out rustic notes of more pipe tobacco and old mahogany furniture – think of an aristocratic smoking room in Victorian London, and that’s where you’re at with this one. I taste countless rums on a regular basis, and it’s a rare occasion when I feel truly fortunate to experience an expression such as this. Eric nailed it with this pick – the Hampden <>H cask is a world-class treat for the senses.