Hampden Silver Seal Hampden 16 Years Old Cask:32 51% 2000

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (87)

All right, we’ve had some super-extreme Hampdens within the last weeks that had been a little difficult. Not that I usually prefer Glenkinchie, but a little sanity from time to time cannot do any harm, can it? Colour: white wine. Nose: a semi-civilised Hampden, that’s what this is. Magic and olives, brine, vegetal glue, wandering throughout Ikea’s main warehouse, diesel oil, and pine needles. With water: a little sawdust and oak shavings, but also some unexpected sea air, and fresh cultivated mushrooms, what we call ‘champignons de Paris’. Mouth (neat): a fruitier Hampden. All the phenoly/varnishy flavours are well there, but there are also rotting bananas and some kind of liquorice and wine sauce. Hampden playing Chopin rather than Wagner. With water: softer, easier, but not void of any Jamaicanness. Finish: rather long, well balanced, on green liquorice and pineapple flambéed. Comments: all very good, this is rather Hampden for well-mannered drinkers. Would that be us? Not too sure…