1992 The Colours of Rum HD 29 Year Old Edition No. 5 Cask Strength Jamaica Rum (700ml)

Always on the hunt for 'malternatives', this delivers another Hampden gem according to Serge Valentin at whiskyfun.com (review below). 250 bottles were released at a cask strength of 58.1% ABV. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Naturally, 'HD' could also mean Harley-Davidson, high-definition, or heavy-duty, but we do believe the mysterious acronym means 'Hampden'. Colour: pale gold. Nose: no wait, this is even greater, with more subtle herbs, teas, smokes of all kinds, mints (spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint et al), earths, fermented sauces including Chinese ones, brines (fish, olives)… Wow! With water: like a great Meursault of great age by a great winemaker. Mouth (neat): just evident. Salted tar, liquorice and lemon juice. Extremely focused and tight. With water: astounding brininess. I'm also finding notes of sorrel soup, cress, melissa and a rather moderate tar this time. Finish: long, tarrier again. Would you believe me if I said it's reminiscent of some Port Ellens? Comments: something Bowmore-y in this one, actually, forget about Port Ellen. I find it even greater than its sister bottling, but that would rather be like 92.99 vs. 92.01, so both 92, let's not puzzle over numbers. 92 points - whiskyfun.com

...Nose: those lovely overripe fruits at first. Fermenting pineapple and banana, with spiced orange, green sugarcane as well as some gummy bears, vanilla and nail polish remover. Minty freshness. Thai basil leaves. Hints of cod liver oil and herbal tea. Excellent. Mouth: the banana / pineapple combo is still there, but the hints of salted liquorice, tar and black olives are bigger. Then some mango, leathery dryness and thyme. A faint hint of rubber. Anchovies and resinous notes in the end. Finish: long and drying, with salty notes, olives and liquorice. 92 points - whiskynotes.be