The stunning special release from Zacapa. This Guatemalan classic won Gold at the International Rum Festival, and won the Platinum award in the Super-Premium category in 2002. This is an incredible extra old rum, which picks up awards wherever it goes.
Calves leather, brown sugar, molasses, bourbon, hints of cedar, pipe tobacco, fruit, chocolate and brandy butter.
Absolutely amazing intensity with waves of soft brown sugar, toffee, spicy oak, cedar and pipe tobacco.
Long, warming finish in sweet, soft spices.
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Caramel, bananas, sweet spices.... are going through this at an alarming rate!
Can’t believe some people think it is ok to mix the XO with Pepsi or any other mixer I might add. If they are adding a mixer, they are totally missing the experience and don’t have a right to rate this one.
Got to say, I’m a little bit stumped why so many people eulogise over Zacapa XO, as in my humble opinion it doesn’t seem to be that much different nor better than the Sistema 23. Now I’m pretty certain that if I did the ‘Pepsi Challenge’ and had the 23 first then the XO immediately afterwards I would be able to say without too much deliberation that the XO is better. But would I be able to say it warrants being £50 more expensive?Absolutely no way! So may I suggest if you’ve got £100 burning a hole in your pocket and you fancy treating yourself to some quality rum, then buy yourself two different bottles at £50 each. It’s not like you haven’t got plenty of choice! Plus many rum enthusiasts would argue that when you start paying over £50 for a rum, you are not necessarily getting a superior rum, but you are just paying for the branding. And using Zacapa XO as an example of this point, I would have to wholeheartedly agree with them.
WOW what a rum. I can truly say that I’ve got to know this rum very well since I’m on my 3rd or 4th bottle now. It’s so seductive and you just want more and more. It’s smooth but not harsh, it’s warm but not hot, it’s sweet but does not claw, it’s mouth coating but no oily. It’s bouquet is very flowery and fruit laden and it’s finish is a good 5 minuets or so but over all it’s a dangerous Rum because it’s very easy to get lost in the complexity and over do it and get really drunk. Who ever said that the 23 sistema is better hasn’t been drinking rum long enough because this has more layers and is more complex. You can pick up hints of other barrels in it from sherry to bourbon to French brandy barrels and even some herbal flavours. It’s very rich dark and intense and I would never add any ice or water to such a rum like this as it only waters down the experience as the ice melts. If you want it cold then put the bottle in the fridge never add ice as it’s sacrilege because it’s spent 27 years in various barrels gaining all those flavours and adding water or ice is destroying the time invested in such a rum and its flavours. Neat always…..
This is a very good rum, with intense deep flavors. Definitely a quality drink. If you're looking to gift it, it also has an impressive presentation. I got this after being very impressed with the Zacapa 23, and was expecting a major upgrade in both, flavor and smoothness. In my opinion the flavor is a bit deeper and intense than in the 23, but it's harsher on the tongue. You can get better bang for the buck with the Zacapa 23.
