Review: Hampden “Great House” Rum Distillery Edition 2025

It’s never not a treat to sample Hampden‘s annual grand finale release, Great House, an ever-changing blend that has often ranked among our favorite rums of the year.

2025’s Great House includes only minimal production info, just that it’s a blend of “several marks of different vintages,” all pot distillate aged in ex-bourbon casks in country.

Hampden “Great House” Rum Distillery Edition 2025 Review

This year’s offering has a fairly rustic nose, its toasty, charred pineapple aromas interspersed with earthy moments and spikes of anise. Barrel char is a constant, with flamed orange peel and crystallized ginger adding nuance. Petrol reigns as the rum sits in glass for a bit.

On the palate, the rum is brooding and dense, pineapple and peach notes battling for dominance. A bit of time on the tongue helps to tame any overt sweetness, with some bitter citrus peel running with the ball. Banana chips and drying star anise add a tiki vibe, with a hot vanilla extract note, laced with baking spices, finishing out the experience. The conclusion is peppery and particularly heavy with cloves, with a light petrol reprise to end the encounter.

It’s not as delightful as a few of the recent Great House expressions, but it’s still a top tier rum worth seeking out.

114 proof.

A- / $150 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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