Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Sistema Solera Rum | 40% vol | 70cl | Intricate & Honeyed Butterscotch | Spiced Fruit | Crafted in Guatemala | Award-Winning Aged Rum | with Gift Box | Ideal Christmas Gift

Product Information

Yes it tastes great. No it is not a genuine aged rum. The XO version is IMO less sweet and more what this rum should be, but the 23 has been sweetened to make it more appealing to the American palate. Also, this is not a 23 yr old rum, it is a Solera blend of aged rum the OLDEST of which is 23 yrs, the average age is closer to 6-8 years. Sipping it like that has really changed my whole understanding of rum. I've always enjoyed Captain Morgan, but this blows them out of the universe. I'm sipping it right now and it's hard to describe, but...

Awarded 5 years in a row (1998-2002) with the First place and Gold medal in the premium rums category in the “International Rum Tasting Contest” of the Caribbean Week's Rum Taste Test. Krásne tmavomahagónový rum má v poháriku mierne sladkastú arómu a vďaka dlhšiemu zreniu aj s výraznejším dymovým akcentom. Trochu dubového dreva a ovocia navrch. Chuťovo sa veľmi neodlišuje od základnej verzie Zacapa 23 Centenario, ale pokročilejší tam určité rozdiely rozpoznajú – základ je ovocný a sladký – hrozienka (alebo skôr višne v čokoláde?), slivky, snáď aj ďatle a mango, výraznejšie je tiež korenie ako klinček, vanilka, škorica a k záveru aj zázvor. Krátke zhodnotenieThe Solera system involves blending rums of different ages together. The youngest rum provides sweetness, while the older rum adds complexity and maturity, resulting in a rich, smooth, and well-balanced spirit. Ron Zacapa's rums are aged for up to 23 years, and this extensive ageing process imparts deep flavours and an unrivalled complexity. Update January 3, 2020: So... after reading through the hydrometer tests, I unfortunately discovered that Ron Zacapa is a company that absolutely loads their "premium rums" with additives like sugars and coloring such. This is something that disappointments me greatly. As noted on my recent review of Zacapa's Edicion Negra, "premium" rums with additives that aren't labeled mean an automatic three points off. That means the highest I can give this now is a 7. It won't go lower because this review is still otherwise true... I do love this rum regardless. Sadly, it's a flavored rum, not a pure rum. Hence the drop in rating.)

Pour a few drops of Ron Zacapa 23 on top of your tiramisu and then enjoy a glass side by side with the Italian dolce – a heavenly treat without a doubt.

Ron Zacapa 23 Details

For some people, a powerhouse brand like Zacapa means reliability and a trustworthy, loyal choice for their home bar. Others might shy away from these large-scale manufacturers and global brands that appeal to a large range of consumers. Ron Zacapa 23 is a unique balance of complex aromas and flavors resulting from the special blend of reserve rums. We hand select rums aged between 6 and 23 years for our “Sistema Solera”. Older and younger rums are then blended as they age in a sequence of barrels that previously stored robust American Whiskeys, delicate Sherries and find Pedro Ximenez wines.” Our plantation is located on the volcanic plains of Retalhuleu, 350m above sea level in south-western Guatemala. Due to the fertile, acidic soil and year-round sunshine, no other place in the world is better suited to the cultivation of sugar cane. Most rums use molasses, a by-product of the sugar making process, as their base; Zacapa, however, is different. To impart a sweeter, smoother flavour, Zacapa uses only the concentrated first press of sugar cane, known as virgin sugar cane honey. This is the very point at which our rum's remarkable taste and profile begin to develop.

Základ je čistá fľaša, ktorú však môžete pokojne darovať tak ako je. Vyzerá naozaj dobre a exkluzívne aj pri lacnejších variantoch. S tubou či kartónom tiež nemáte čo pokaziť, akurát to bude o chlp drahšie. Z času načas tiež môžete naďabiť aj na špeciálne darčekové balenie ako napríklad kazeta s fľašou a štýlovými pohárikmi „old edition“. Naozaj cenené sú potom niektoré limitky, asi najviac však tie, kde je fľaša komplet zabalená v už spomínanom petate (rohož so spletených vlákien palmového lístia). Obyčajné fľaše majú z neho „iba“ jeden pásik. The rum is a dark amber with reddish hints. To be honest its exact colour is as complex as the rum. Light can make it appear both red and golden and dark at the same time! The rum is quiet viscous almost like a lighter liqueur, rather than a rum. The rum is very sweet on the nose. Another point which is often made about this rum is how much sugar is added. This is a slight which is often aimed at a lot of the newer breed of “Premium Sipping Rums”. Like many rum arguments its not something which either interests or bothers me. I don’t know how to distil, blend or market rum I just enjoy drinking the ones I enjoy. The Zacapa initially gives a bouquet of brown sugar, it reminds me a little of a chocolate or caramel/toffee sauce for ice cream or desserts. Upon a further nosing I am also getting a feeling for the aged rums in the blend with a little oak and cocoa coming through. Ron Zacapa je rum, ktorý dokáže pootvoriť dvierka do sveta kvalitných rumov aj úplným novicom. Túto ťažkú úlohu spĺňa hlavne jeden z celkovo najvyhľadávanejších rumov u nás Ron Zacapa 23 Centenario. Práve dostatočne dlhá doba zrenia je pre kvalitu rumu najpodstatnejšia. Pri tejto značke sa teda nemusíte nijako obmedzovať – najstaršie rumy v blende totiž majú 23-25 rokov, pri prémiových rumoch Zacapa Royal a Zacapa XO je to dokonca až 30-35 rokov. Rumy Ron Zacapa – krátky súhrn In the “Sistema Solera”, art and tradition encourage the blending of rums of different ages and personalities so that they may continue to mature in select barrels. This dynamic and artisanal process culminates only after the complexity of aromas and flavors confirm that unique, mature rum has been created” spracovanie cukrovej trstiny– Zacapa používa na výrobu svojich rumov panenský sirup/med z cukrovej trstiny ( Virgin sugar cane honey), a nie melasu ako väčšina ostatných producentov

Zacapa 23 is a super-premium rum made from a blend of rums aged between 6 and 23 years old. It is made from only the sweetest first crush virgin sugar cane honey, rather than molasses, and is aged in a series of casks that previously held American whiskies, Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximenez wines in a unique process called the Sistema Solera. The secret of Zacapa is the slow ageing process that takes place at high altitude (2,300m above sea level) in the cool air of the Guatemala highlands. This helps slow the ageing process, which creates the final balance between the aromas and flavours extracted during a slow process. Zacapa has been awarded first place five times in a row at the international Rum Contest* and is the only luxury rum in the Rum Hall of Fame. In January 2012, Zacapa was named one of the “World's Top 100 Most Valuable Luxury Brands” by the World Luxury Association. Príprava daiquri je veľmi jednoduchá. Všetky ingrediencie vložte do šejkra s ľadom a dobre pretrepte. Napokon sceďte do koktailového pohára (Coupe glass), ktorý dozdobíte plátkom limetky Svetlá jantárová farba v poháriku vyzerá naozaj dobre. No a keď ho v ňom necháte trochu vydýchnuť, počastuje vás následne arómou, v ktorej by ste mali ucítiť hlavne vanilku a karamel, maslo, drevo, ale aj mandle, škoricu či pomarančovú kôru. Chuťovo suchší rum charakterizujú najskôr drevité tóny a karamel, objaví sa i marcipán, pomarančová kôra a na celkom solídne dlho trvajúci suchý záver aj marmeláda. Zhodnotenie na záver Most rum is distilled from molasses, with yeast feasting on those darker caramelized sugars. Ron Zacapa is distilled from something called “virgin sugar cane honey,” or “virgin honey,” the syrup that comes from the first pressing of the cane plant, with about 72 percent sugar content, compared to molasses’ approximate 50 percent. Combine that with the gentler aging process (see “Star Wars” below), and you start to see where the aspirational finesse of the Ron Z flavor profile comes from. It has something in common with “Star Wars.” Given the price tag, this is a more luxurious every-day sip, but the versatility gives you plenty of options to serve and enjoy this rum. Closing Thoughts

In short, I used a Vinturi Spirit Aerator, and used that to pour the rum into one of the Neat Whiskey Glasses (I don't have a specific rum glass... wouldn't mind some recommendations).

Finish

Named after a town in eastern Guatemala, Ron Zacapa was created to celebrate the centenary of the town of Zacapa. The brand’s distinctive production process sets it apart from other rums. Ron Zacapa is made from ‘virgin sugar cane honey’, a concentrated sugarcane juice, and not molasses, which is more commonly used in rum production. This results in a sweeter and smoother base for distillation. Ron Zacapa Ámbar je blend vybraných 4-12 ročných rumov vyrobených tradične (v rámci značky) systémom solera. Ide teda o pomerne mladší rum (na Zacapu), čo sa prejaví aj na jeho vlastnostiach. Mimochodom Ámbar znamená v španielčine jantár, čo evokuje farbu tohto rumu. Zacapa rumy sú už od základu trochu drahšie, rátajte, že na ne budete potrebovať aspoň 40 – 50 €. Aj podľa veľkosti fľaše samozrejme. And I absolutely adore how this sits on my tongue. It's sugar... which I guess is to be expected. And I love that.