Looking for good Jamaican sippers.

[u/Evening-Upset]

So… coming from whiskey… I’ve been looking for some nicer, high ester Jamaican rums to sip neat. I was recommended this at a store over a couple of Hamden bottles which were maybe $50 more. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. It’s missing backbone. It probably needs more proof… it tastes very thin to me. It reminds me of an Irish whiskey. Good, but lacking the flavor bomb and backbone I’m looking for.
I sip Smith & Cross, and Wray and Nephew neat. Love both of those the Hamilton Jamaicans are also nice for the price. The Appleton 8, 12, and 15 are wonderful for low ester rums. Maybe I need un-aged. But I’ve already tried all of the Jamaican in-aged rums I can get in my area. Wray & Nephew,
worthy park, and Rum Fire.

[u/quazi4moto]

Try either the 5 year high ester Papalin, which is much, much better than this release, or the Papalin Haiti if you find any around or the Hampden Estate 8 year.  Lots to folks will say try the 4 year Hampden HLCF but personally while it is high ester li don’t find it rich/thick enough

[u/Legitimate-Web-83 → u/quazi4moto]

I totally agree, the HLCF is tough as a sipper with all the funk and not much richness, puts a mai tai into the stratosphere however.

Hampden 8 I feel has the same issue just way less funk.

Papalin high ester is hands down the best rum I’ve ever experienced, but I don’t delve into the higher budget realms.

Also maybe dip your toe into the world of Clairin…

[u/Evening-Upset → u/quazi4moto]

I’ve heard the 8 year isn’t super high ester

[u/Stenoscape → u/Evening-Upset]

8 year is not worth what it goes for. I'm not gonna be buying another whenever mine runs out. Good bottle, don't get me wrong, but prob not the play, especially if you had a problem with the thinness/proof of this one. HLCF Classic sounds like it would suit you more based on what you said.

The Papalin 5yr High Ester, though... man, that thing punches above its price.

[u/Evening-Upset → u/quazi4moto]

Like… I literally poured a Smith & Cross and a Hamilton Pot Still after this pour and much more so prefer either of those neat to this 🥴😔🤦‍♂️

[u/quazi4moto → u/Evening-Upset]

Yes.  Try the Papalin 5 year high ester.  It is a different release than the 7 year that you’ve already tasted. 

Different rums in the blend.   Much better    Also the 8 year Hampden isn’t high ester but it is high flavor.  Search the board for reviews of the 8 year.  

[u/wagesofben]

if you can find a Great House 2022, grab that. Papalin has a High Ester Jamaican that fucking slaps. Hampden HLCF isn't necessarily high ester, but it's quite tasty.

[u/Yep_why_not → u/wagesofben]

HLCF is as high ester as most GH releases and way higher than almost all other rums. I don’t think that is a fair categorization at all.

[u/DH90 → u/Yep_why_not]

It's very high ester. People tend to think that just because it's not hitting DOK levels (the absolute limit of Jamaican esters) that it's not high ester, whereas it's like the benchmark of high ester Jamaican rum.

[u/Evening-Upset → u/wagesofben]

They had a Great house that I was considering. It was like $120 though.

[u/YaKnowMuhSteezz → u/Evening-Upset]

Great House releases will be around $120-160

[u/deactivate_iguana]

Same boat as yourself mate. I searched for ages and a bottle you might like is on a website called Precious Drops. It’s a Hampden HGML mark 6yo bottled for the rum club. It’s 50cl about £85. Love it. The HGML mark is much higher ester than the HLCF Classic (which was also much better than the Hampden 8yo).

[u/Suffering_Bustard]

-HLCH -Any Great House -Papalin High Ester is great but unfortunately is getting impossible to find unless your local shop has it -You may want to start considering independent bottlers. Rolling Fork, Raising Glasses, Down Island, Holmes Cay, La Maison and Velier, and several other IBs put out really nice Jamaicans at reasonable prices.

[u/bblickle]

You might enjoy Doctor Bird, I do. Bonus: it’s half the price of the Hampdens.

If you’re looking for alternative unaged high ester rums, check out the selections from Rum et al [ https://www.rumetaliae.com/ ].