Mezan Hampden & Monymusk XO Extra Old

Mezan Hampden & Monymusk XO is a Jamaican rum from the independent bottler Mezan, blending pot and column still spirit from two distilleries: Hampden, the reference point for high ester funk, and Monymusk in Clarendon. Mezan is known for bottling without added sugar or colouring, and this sits at the gentle, approachable end of the Jamaican spectrum rather than chasing the explosive marques.

It is molasses based, and although the famous Hampden funk is present it is dialled right down here. The nose is fruity and estery with ripe banana and tropical fruit, and the palate keeps that bright banana and fruit alongside spice, citrus, tobacco and vanilla, staying light and soft on a young, slightly hot finish. At 40% and unsweetened, this works as a low risk gateway into Jamaican rum: enough banana and ester to show the style, but kept easy enough to sip neat or fold into a simple cocktail.