The Rolling Stones have a longstanding and deep connection to Jamaica. The album Goats Head Soup, in all its raw classic-Stones rock and roll glory, was recorded in Kingston at the height of reggae’s international boom. The band, particularly Keith Richards became enamoured with the country. Richards purchased property there in the 70s and stayed on and off for decades.

Rum is embedded into Jamaican culture and the gold standard spirits are distilled from sugar cane grown there. But where there was once more than 150 distilleries in Jamaica alone, this has dwindled to just six in the present day.

Now 50 years after recording their album named after one of Jamaica’s national dishes, The Rolling Stones created Crossfire Hurricane rum as a way to honour their links to Jamaica while supporting local distilleries: Hampden Estate, Long Pond, Worthy Park and Clarendon. The rum’s name comes from the first line of the song Jumpin’ Jack Flash, as Mick Jagger sings ‘I was born in a crossfire hurricane’. Blended with distillates from the four estates, Crossfire Hurricane was created alongside rum expert and ambassador Ian Burrell.

Burrell was brought in to ensure strict adherence to the traditional Jamaican rum process - and not least, teaching rum drinkers to spill a swig of rum on the floor to appease any nearby ghosts.

I visited a humid, balmy Ocho Rios to taste batch one of the Crossfire Hurricane gold and reserve rums, and here’s what I thought.

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  • Why we love it- Oaky, smoky notes
  • Can be enjoyed neat and in rum punch

The reserve is a warming, sippable, viscous rum with characterful notes of sweet molasses, nutmeg, pineapple and caramel. The rum - with no added sugar - is aged for between three and seven years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. This means it retains the bourbon flavours, permeating the rum with oaky, smoky notes.

It has a long lingering finish and is an excellent summertime choice. Enjoy the reserve neat to experience the full flavour profile, or make a pitcher of rum punch with “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak”.

This 17th-century rhyme is the recipe: one part fresh lime juice, two parts sugar or sweetener, three parts rum and four parts water or fruit juice.

Key features:

  • ABV:40%

  • Style:Jamaican blended rum

  • Why we love it- Gentle warmth and clean finish

  • Good entry level spirit

  • Take note- Might be too subtle for some

The gold iteration is lighter and made for mixing, whether with a classic rum-cola, rum punch, daiquiri or dark ‘n’ stormy. I tried this one neat and then mixed into a fruity, tart daiquiri. The profile of flavour is more subtle than the reserve, with some light apricot, orange peel and ripe banana notes.

This is a good entry level spirit for someone looking for less funk, while still experiencing those typical Jamaican rum flavours. With a clean, shorter finish on the palate and gentle warmth, I can imagine this will be the core of lots of summer cocktails.

Key features:

  • ABV:40%
  • Style:Gold rum