Smith and Cross Navy Strength

Excellent as a navy strength mixer. As a standard mixer for cocktails, I'm not a fan of the higher proof options, but that is a personal preference.

Couldn’t have asked for more in a jamaican rum. Old bananas and tropical fruit, which come alive after letting it breath for a fee minutes and cube of ice.

Nice overproof jamaican rum with a lot of funk and flavour. S&C definitely has a regular place in my bar. Excellent rum for cocktails especially tiki drinks!

The nose hits immediately with plenty of Jamaican funk - strong aromas of overripe banana and nutmeg mix with stinky gym socks but also something like Juicy Fruit gum. Pretty interesting! The palate is lighter and smoother than I expected, with spicy, alcohol heat that starts things off, which then subsides to reveal dry ginger and pear, before going out on a long finish. You can taste something like ginger ale 2 minutes after. With a few drops of water, the aromas and palate smooth out and even off, without losing their original components. This is very good rum but I think I’d prefer it as a mixer, or in punch, instead of sipping too much of it. It packs a wallop at 57% abv. A quality rum.

Yes, it is strong, but it is not harsh, nor is it acrid tasting the way a young scotch or mixing rum might taste. It is sophisticated and complex, and has a beautiful finish that is sweeter than I expected. Lot's of "funk" though less briny than Hampden. The funk here is fruity and spiced tasting. This rum is priced like a much poorer quality rum than it is. If you are interested in something "adult" and ever interesting, go here. This is definitely not for beginners, though.

Hogo forward and overproof, this is a staple cocktail rum. Great way to add that jamaican funk! Not everyone's cup of tea though...

taste - 7.5/10
smell - 8/10
sweetness - 7/10
price/value rating - 8/10

I like HOGO and I like funk. This gets the job done and brings that tropical note to anything it touches. Definitely one of the best out there, especially at the price-point.

Scupper, sink, and burn me! This be a fierce rum! Fiercer than raw pork on an unsuspectin' crew member's guts. Fiercer than gettin' a kick to the forward anchor by an angry wench wearin' pointy boots. You get the idea... savvy? On the nose, this rum be sweet. Not syrupy sweet. Not "oh please let me sail with you; i'll do anythin' to sail with you" sweet. A good sweet that be nowhere near dry. There also be oak and bananas. OLD bananas, like the kind with the vapors that bring a tear to your eye from rottin' in the sun for weeks. Not OLD bananas like Stumpy the Cook who be in desperate need of a bath. There be other fruit smells, maybe a bit of flowery smell, spices, and of course, alcohol - which is why we be drinkin' "Ol' Stinkfist" to begin with! As for taste, she be not as sweet, but still a bit sweet, like burned sugar. There be a bit of oak and fruit, but the spices come on strong in the finish. This rum be smooth with a great body and a considerable burn. The burn goes away after a few... but by that point, you'll be three sheets to the wind. You won't care that you can't feel your face. You won't care that you introduced your best crew member to the sharks. You won't care about that kick to the forward anchor. You won't care that you voted against yourself for new captain. You just won't. Now, might this be a sippin' rum? The better question might be "Might you be a REAL pirate?"

This is a one of the stronger smelling rums that I have ever tasted. It has a very bold taste.