Smith & Cross

The elegant label informs you in a clear, concise manner what you can expect from the content. So one by one. 'Smith & Cross' is Britain's oldest sugar mill with an adjoining distillery. Imported Jamaican rum ('traditional Jamaica rum') was stored along the river Thames ('London'). 'Pure pot still' means exactly what it means: distillation exclusively in copper stills. 'Plummer and Wedderburn' indicates the Jamaican style of both ingredients. '750ml' is an additional 50ml of pleasure compared to the standard bottle volume. 'Navy strength, 57%' is a bit misleading, because to be precise - 'navy' means 54.5% abv, while for 57% abv an accurate term is 'proof strength'. I am tempted to make a brilliant observation - golden letters emphasize the nobility of the product.

Made using molasses and local wild yeast fed with dunder. The Jamaican Hampden Estate used high ester Wedderburn and medium ester Plummer and distilled both in copper pot stills. First matured for six months in white oak barrels, the second one year and a half to three.

Hampden is an old school distillery with an established reputation. Smith&Cross is promoted as a mixing rum and enjoys recognition in the tiki community. Ultimately, it is the consumer who decides on the intended use, and I like the severe hogo solo. I think I'm not the only one.