Side by side
Green Spot vs Smith & Cross
Green Spot
10 positive (100%) · 0 mixed (0%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +100%
Top excerpts
Irish: Redbreast 12 or Green Spot. Both have the typical creamy malty character, but Redbreast is more tropical fruity and Green Spot is more fresh green apple.
Green Spot is also a good choice, €55~€65. Also triple distilled with a sweet, creamy malt, but has a green apple fruity note instead.
They are both excellent, and I doubt you could tell much of a difference in this cocktail with the mezcal.
You could go with Bruichladdich maybe or Green Spot if you’d like an Irish whiskey option.
But Powers Johns Lane, Green Spot, and Redbreast 12 are all terrific entry points to the category too.
Smith & Cross
35 positive (85%) · 4 mixed (10%) · 2 negative (5%)
Trust + time weighted: +79%
AI summary — not a quote
Smith & Cross is a highly acclaimed Jamaican Navy Strength rum celebrated for its "funky" hogo character and high proof. It is widely considered a staple for tiki-style cocktails and is frequently used to add intensity and depth to rum blends.
Pros
- Distinctive 'funk' (hogo) profile that adds significant complexity to cocktails
- High proof (Navy strength) provides a strong backbone that stands up to mixers
- Excellent for blending with more approachable rums like Appleton Estate to create custom profiles
- Considered an essential ingredient for specific recipes like the Kingston Negroni and Mai Tai
Cons
- Can be polarizing; some users find the flavor profile 'rough' or unpalatable
- High intensity can easily dominate a drink if not carefully balanced
Top excerpts
If you want a bottle that will be useful in lots of tiki cocktails, Smith and Cross, or Planteray O.F.T.D. would be my first picks.
For Rum my go-to default these days is mostly Appleton 8 with a bit of Smith & Cross, if I have it.
I'm a big fan of Smith & Cross
I’ve been really loving Smith & Cross on the rocks as an end-of-night sipper
I usually go with Appleton or Mount Gay as a more basic rum and then I try to keep Smith and Cross to have as a funkier rum.