Ron Zacapa 23 Solera

Smooth and decadent. Mild acetone nose. Taste is better than the smell. Pillowy mouth feel. Very enjoyable rum. I learned about the added sugar and that knocks my score down a point or two. This 9 is now a 7.

For the price range that this bottle is at, this rum hits all the right notes with its ideal Latin American flair. This rum is perfect for new and experienced rum drinkers. A “go to” rum for any occasion. Enjoyed with a single ice cube or neat; please don’t tarnish this rum with coke or lime.

Pienso que el Solera 23 fue mejor. De alguna manera ya no me gusta tanto como hace años. De todas maneras es un clásico y sigue siendo de lo mejor que hay en el mercado. Satinado en la boca, potente en la nariz y mucho sabor a vainilla, chocolate y madera. Sigue siendo un clásico y referente, pero mejor es el Etiqueta Negra.

I'm new to the world of sipping rum, having only enjoyed rum as a mixer. This one tastes great and is easy to sit and sip - probably a good rum for beginners, like me.

Nice, rich and oaky rum. I'd rather said too oaky. Strong vanilla and cardamon bite from the glass. overly sweet, but good to start with, if you used to sip whiskey/brandy.
It can't work well, if you are going to mix it. It's not bad nor ugly. This one is good enough to be a gift for someone important (maybe yr boss), but in search of the better sipping experience and love for Zacapa - go for "Limitada Reserve".

The alcohol is noticeable at the beginning (I let it in the glas for 10 minutes before drinking), very pleasant and fruity/herbal sweetness in the smell.
The taste is not too sweet, but dark with caramel, raisins and typical Zacapa herbs.
I like the herbs with caramel, that's typical Zacapa for me.

Smell: caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, banana, raisins, herbs/plants, orange, oak
Taste: caramel, herbs, raisins, cognac
Middel: burned sugar, dried fruits, raisins, banana, wet barrel (earth)
Finish: spice, burned sugar and raisins, middle long, sweet, spicy

Sweetness: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Fruit: 3/5
Mildness: 3/5
Value (37€): 4/5

Country: Guatemala
Production: Blend, solera
Material: Virgin Sugar Cane Honey
Barrel: Bourbon and sherry
Age: 6-23
Master Blender: Lorena Vásquez

What's special:
"Zacapa adds a yeast strain called Saccharomyces cerevisae which is extracted from pineapples."
Aged and blended in the 'House Above the Clouds', 2300m above sea level at 17° degree.
Virgin sugarcane honey is produced from the first press of ripened sugarcane.
What means virgin? naturally-occurring sugars have not been extracted from the cane stalks."

I have enjoyed this rum a few times. It impresses company. It’s a must try, but for the price there are other I prefer more.

This is not a bad rum. But... I was hoping for a real competitor to Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva. Zacapa pales in a side-by-side taste test.

Like Diplomatica Exclusiva Reserva, this is bordering on a liqueur rather than a proper rum, so again it understandably divides opinion. Of the two, I've given this the lower rating - mainly because it costs 25% more without being particularly better in my opinion.
The stylish bottle and packaging are a very nice touch, but the misleading '23 solera' rating (meaning the oldest rum in the blend is 23 years old, not the average age or youngest, as you may understandably assume) does grate a little.

this rum is spicy and tart. The aftertaste is too pungent for me, but it's tasty nonetheless!