The sugar trade was a cornerstone of the British Empire and in 1802 London's West India Docks, were built solely to process the vast amounts of sugar and rum arriving from British colonies, particularly Jamaica. For generations, England was Jamaica's best market for rum and for this reason the world went to London to source the finest products.

With its roots going back to 1788, Smith & Cross and its partners became prominent handlers of Jamaica rum, with extensive cellars along the banks of The River Thames. Throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century, Jamaica Rum became revered for its deep, full flavours and pleasing aromas. This rum represents the distinctively flavourful and aromatic style that made Jamaican rum famous.

This rum represents the distinctively flavourful and aromatic style that made Jamaican rum famous. Containing only heavier bodied Wedderburn and medium bodied Plummer pot still distillates, famous for their notes of exotic fruits and spice and fermented using a local strain of yeast indigenous to Jamaica, Smith & Cross delivers a tour de force of flavour and complexity that historically made Jamaica Rum a cornerstone of many classic drinks.

A blend of approximately equal parts Wedderburn and Plummer, the former is aged for less than a year, and the latter is blended from rums that have spent between 18 months and three years in white oak barrels. Blended at 57% ABV, or 100° English proof, this was the traditional strength required by the British Royal Navy.