Smith and Cross Traditional Jamaica Navy Strength

Was not expecting this aroma and flavor. The nose reminded me a lot of the very funky and fun Clairin Le Rocher Haitian agricole rum, because there is a lot going on in the nose, and on the tongue. And most of it is nearly un-explainable. There is definitely some leather and tobacco in the nose,and a weird funk I can only describe as kind of rubbery chemical thing. That weird smell is not overly strong but its there. The rum is not nearly as strong on the mouth and finish as the 57% indicates, and it allows the spices and fruits to come through, but mixed with the nose, its hard to really pinpoint much of the specific flavors. It packs a punch, its funky, its fun and I enjoyed it greatly. Now I just have to filter through it all and find out what those flavors are.

Like a punch in the face. Cannot drink this sucker straight, but I keep trying.

It's great at what it is meant for and that's in Tiki drinks. Straight? That'll take you a while.

edit- 2 years later? Well, damn if I didn't come all the way around on this one. Enjoyable with a bit of water, but I enjoy it most as an addition to fruit-based drinks.

This is powerful stuff! The nose is an assalut on your senses, bringing in lots of molasses and brown sugar. I like to drink it neat, but I can see that it is especially made to worj in coktails, with its strong smell and taste leaning towards molasses and being low on oak. Not a well rounded drink, but strong and kicking!

This is the rum if you would like to start exploring jamaican rum. It's powerfull, full of flavour yeat fruity with sweet vanilla notes.

This absolutely have the funk the Jamaican rums are famous for. Strong taste and smell, fruity and of burnt sugar and caramel. While I have learned that I am really bad at distinguishing different fruits from each other in these kinds of drinks and rums, this definitely has a fruity aroma compared to most other rums I have tasted. I like it alot. The 57% makes it best on the rocks, which I enjoy.

I finally found a bottle of this at a liquor store the next town over and all I can say is holy shit was it worth the hunt! This has got to be one of the most intense-tasting rums I've ever had and I love it! Bold and bursting with flavor, it's proofy and packed with overripe fruit funkiness like a good Jamaican pot still rum should be but with the addition of caramel and baking spice notes that really bring it to the next level. It's loud character makes it a little more challenging to incorporate in most cocktails than more softly-spoken spirits, but man is it worth it. This is the rum I thought Kraken was when I was still young and dumb enough to be drinking that shit, and while the decade between then and now hasn't exactly been all fun and games, I am forever grateful that it has granted me the maturity to appreciate real flavor. 9 stars.

Finally tried Smith & Cross and it did not disappoint! I was sipping this neat alongside some Lime La Croix, and well, I think I found an incredible combination. The rum is strong in all the good ways and bursts with flavors of super ripe tropical fruits along with that beautiful hogo quality. Chase it with some lime flavored la croix and the result is delicious. This is going to be great in tropical drinks, but I'll happily sip on this one too.

Excellent. Just the right amount of funk. I get fresh cut wood, light fruit/sweet, some alcohol, "BBQ", and something else I can't quite identify on the nose (that is also present on the palate - pleasant, I just can't place it...). Quite smooth for the proof. Hints of cherry and definite molasses on the finish. Just a great rum for sipping and mixing, a decent value too. Recommend it.

Full of flavor (overriped fruits, rotting grass, molasses and who knows what else), very nice nose, high voltage yet manages to be smooth and generally easily sippable. I find it to be generally smoother, rounder than other (more expensive) Jamaican funkies.
Ain't probably a rookie anymore as I easily sipped 1/5 of the bottle "na posezení" on the first occasion. Perfect material, I have no complaints whatsoever and I consider it to be too good / waste for being just a mixer. The sweet and pleasant nose is above and beyond and the taste is just addictive as fuck. I generally prefer S-African Mhobas over Jamaican funkies but this rum is well positioned to be their serious challenger in my shelf.
A well made cork and general availibility and casual nature of the rum is also a PRO. A very strong 9 here.