Great review. I got Pagos and Great House 2023 for myself as a gift 😀 Must say I am really impressed by the Pagos. You described it exactly as I experience it
Great review my friend! I’ve been looking forward to the HLCF Classic but after watching this I think I’m going to prioritize getting the Pagos. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thanks for the review. I'm already in love with the HLCF, 1st bottle bought durind covid. Pagos is literally on the way to me and I wasn't sure sherry x high esters would make sense. But apparently, they marry well. And why wouldn't they if we consider the peat monsters of Islay finished in sherry casks (laga, Ardbeg uigeadail, kilchoman) are just superb. Glad you like it. Cheers
To my knowledge there are two versions of Pagos, 2022 and 2023. It seems like 2023 recently released in the US (yay!) but we missed out on the 2022 version. Can’t wait to try some!
Yes, so from what I've been told.. the first version was a blend of LROK and HLCF marks, and were aged in Lustau casks. This newer version is fully HLCF and aged in Fundador casks. Given how much I like this new version, I do want to try the older verison.
Great timing on this, I think I have located a bottle of the Pagos. Sherry finishes are hit and miss for me, but the fact that you didn’t describe the flavor as “sherry” and instead as fruit is promising. I may go ahead and pick it up.
Recently got a bottle of the Pagos and I'm loving it so far. I have seen a few places saying they thought it was the LROK mark and that seems to align with my experience. Going to miss the old overproof blend, but excited to eventually try the new HLCF classic. Regardless, great review and keep up the good work!
I'm thinking the "diesel soaked pineapple" note was the funk that my group and i really picked up on with the Pagos. Wasn't too enamored with its strangeness but to each their own. I think I'm just used to more mainstream rums than funk monsters like these two but I bought them both anyway because I'm a shameless rum hoarder. LOL
TBH, its not a note that I'm always craving or wanting in my rum. I really have to be in the mood for it. Though I know plenty of others who live for that kinda thing lol
Got to taste all 3 new releases at work and I think the great house is my favorite then the pagos than the HLCF Classic alll were really excellent and interesting rums though
I definitely need to spend more time with the Great House 23. Can't quite say how I rank it against the Pagos and Classic yet. But I will say I prefer the pagos over the classic.
Hello Arminder I subscribed to your channel several months ago and I very much enjoy your content. It is very informative and I always learn something. I was wondering what your thoughts are about Hamilton Rums. The ministry of rum website does not provide any information about where the rums are sourced and aged. Do you have any insight? Appreciate you sir, keep up the great work
Hello! Last I checked, both the Jamaican Pot Still Black and Gold are the same blend of Worthy Park rums. And in fact, they are both unaged with color added to get you either the gold or black that the name references. The Demerara 86 and 151 are the same blend of lightly aged rums from Demerara Distillers in Guyana, but just at different proof points.
I only have the 8 year and I enjoy sipping that one. Would these be a good next step up from that? I also love rumfire in my cocktails. I really enjoy Sherry finished whiskey because I love the dried dark fruit notes that it gives
Great review-- really enjoying your vids. I am a Scotch guy, and I'm delving into Rum for a sipping "malternative" as reviewer Ralfy calls it. After watching a lot of your vids & others, Sunday I bought, as my first Rum, a bottle of 12yo Foursquare 2010... and I'm pretty thrilled with it. I enjoy huge flavor profiles; I'm not put off by high proofs, and I like funk (not sure if Campbeltown Scotch funk even compares to Jamaican funk). And I prefer Bourbon aged vs Sherry aged, when there's no peat involved. Next month I want to buy a bottle of Jamaican Rum, and I'd love to be blown away like I am with the Foursquare. Any thoughts on what I might like? -Patrick
Congrats on your first rum. You picked a good one! If you want a flavorful Jamaican rum with tons of character, then check out Hampden. The 8 Year is a good starting point and then when you want to jump off the deeper end, then check out the HLCF Classic (packs a funky punch) or the Pagos (aged in sherry but not a sherry bomb).
I hated pagos and really dislike the taste of this rum. The nasty aftertaste lingers forever. Nail polish and spoiled milk with a hint of Sherry on the pallet. The nasty aftertaste lingers forever.
