A top pick for tiki and tropical drinks, this practically begs for lime juice. Scented with warm honey notes, the palate shows lots of brown sugar and spice, plus an enticingly untamed, funky finish (the fabled 'hogo'). Since it’s 'Navy Strength,' you might not want to sip it straight up—the producer wisely recommends exploring the profile first in a daiquiri—though it’s smooth and interesting enough if you want to try.
Smith & Cross is one of England's oldest producers of sugar and spirits. It all started in 1788 when they opened a sugar refinery by the London Docks. Over time, their sugar refineries turned into rum cellars and they became prominent members of the spirits community. This traditional rum contains only Wedderburn and Plummer pot distillates, which are famous for their notes of exotic fruit and spice. These styles were made with a combination of the molasses, skimmings, cane juice, and syrup bottoms from sugar production. A traditional Jamaican practice is to use wild yeasts in the fermentation process, which is said to impact the flavor significantly. The Smith & Cross Rum is called Navy Strength because it is bottled at 57% alcohol by volume, the traditional strength required by the British Royal Navy. At this proof, if the spirits spilled while in storage, it would not prevent the stored gunpowder from igniting when eventually used. Jamaican rum is known for its deep, full flavors and pleasant aromas. On the palate, rich notes of exotic spice and dried fruit blend with flavors of oak and honey.
This rum represents the distinctively flavorful and aromatic style that made Jamaica rum famous in the late 19th and early 20th century. Containing only Wedderburn and Plummer pot still distillates, famous for their notes of exotic fruits and spice, it delivers a tour de force of flavour and complexity that historically made Jamaica rum a cornerstone of many classic drinks. The mark of Smith & Cross traces its lineage to 1788 as one of England’s oldest producers of sugar and spirits. Over time, the firm and its partners became prominent handlers of Jamaica Rum, with extensive underground cellars along the river Thames.