The roads into the estate is an adventure all its own leaving Ocho Rios, you start out on very nice freeway-like roads, but when you make the first turn on to a "parish" local road you begin to see what is ahead for you. The appearance of "pot holes" begins and you still enjoy the smooth asphalt, but you get to weave around and avoid them. soon as the potholes become larger and deeper you swerve around looking for the asphalt and finally as you turn on to the road the says "rum tour" you are just looking to avoid the potholes because it is now a dirt road.
lined and smooth. The estate is really beautiful, an oasis carved out of the wilderness. The Great House is amazing along with the grounds surrounding it.
Upon arriving you are greeted very warmly and given an awesome Rum Fire punch. The tour begins with an interesting lecture about the history of Jamaica and the sugar plantation. From there you are taken for a walk around the grounds of the Great House and into the distillery. It becomes very clear that this place has been making rum for a very long time. The fermentation method is very interesting, giving me a much better understanding of how that very unique flavor that is Jamaican Rum is accomplished. No, they wouldn't show me the "Muck Pit" that is a secret place that no visitor is allowed to see. The same with the fermentation building, they only let us see certain parts of it.
I'm very familiar with their Rum Fire because it is distributed in the United States by Dr. Nicolas Feris, a close friend and fellow rum geek here in the United States. Nick has brought Rum Fire to be on of the better known "overproof" rums here in the states. The rum is in direct competition with Wray and Nephew Overproof, another gem created in Jamaica.
I'd like to thank Christelle Harris and all of the staff at Hampton Estates for making my visit such and informative and fun one. This is a must see for anyone that is interested in rum and how it becomes the special beverage that you enjoy so much.
