Navy Island Hampden Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry Cask Finish (2022)

Navy Island finished this Hampden in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, a 2022 release that lets the sweet wine wood take the lead. Hampden is Jamaica's high-ester benchmark, but here its funk is held well back, the PX doing most of the talking.

Distilled from molasses on a double-retort pot still and finished in PX wood, it shows tropical fruit, sherry, fruit and citrus on the nose, then sherry, wood, tropical fruit and a syrupy edge on the palate, finishing alcoholic, sherried, woody and faintly bitter. Bottled at 46.7% and unsweetened, the PX richness pushes Hampden's base note into the background, giving dried fruit and sweet grape over only a hint of the distillery's character. Some find it a little watered down and flat, but as a relaxed, affordable introduction to a Jamaican rum finish it offers an easy interplay of dry, heavy fruit and fresh citrus for the price.