Ron Zacapa 23 Solera

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.

Nice rum, bit smokey, soft in the beginning with a slight burn afterwards.

It's an okay rum but what really surprised me is the strong smell and taste of alcohol. The sweetness and the molasses only come through as an aftertaste. I've had rums that were 55% and tasted less of alcohol so that really makes this rum average at best.
Still quite enjoyable though!

Edit; this rum really benefits from being out (how do you say that in English? Tumble?) for a while, it really helps bring out the suppleness of this rum and rids it of the intense alcohol taste

Trhalo mi srdce ako ho ludia pili s colou. Nehadzte perly prasatom.

Allways in my cabinet. Everyone knows it.
A litle bit overrated.

Looking forward for this rum but it isn´t that special. Sheet a bit flat but still good. Just not that good as i ecpected.

A big name for rum lovers, it's incredibly smooth and pleasant, but...really that's all after 23 years?!

Nose: surprisingly, it seems there Is no alcohol in the glass. Maybe that bottle was opened some times ago, I don't know, but it smells so smooth, sweet, a tons of vanilla and other spices, a minimum touch of citrus. It's really good, but I expected more complexity from a rum aged by 23 years...

Taste: coherent with the nose, starts sweet and smooth immediatly, and again It seems that there is a very small amount of alcohol in, no trace of warmth, and this disappointed me a little bit. Also, Is not that complex (and again, I expected a lot of complexity from a distillate 23 years old): molassess, vanilla, reminding of pastry and butter cookies and rape fruit notes are present, but no traces of oak, woods or other spices... uhm, I drank very very younger rums with infinite more character! The finish is medium, with bitter memories of licorice, a sweet pastry.

Notes: overall, it's a good rum, this is sure. But from 23 years old of aging, I expected a great, that I never found neither to the nose nor to the taste.

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Given that it’s more expensive than most, I thought it would be more special

This is not a true 23 year old rum. That point has been dealt out in many posts before mine. It is a let down.

This blend of rums (different ages-with little 23 year old casket gold) has the dishonor of being further sweetened to appeal to the rum newbies with money to spend.

I will unequivocally state, the rum is a good mixer with Coke, and I haven’t tried it with Coconut water yet. It has aromas of oak, banana, and vanilla. It is a manufactured sweet smell.

The straight sip is pleasant, not overpowering, or bitter with no real burn on the swallow. There is a slight bitterness on the back of the tongue. But no ‘real’ burn like other rums.

I’m not sure about a sipper, but it is good in Coke. This is not molasses based, but sugar cane ‘honey’ which I am liking more and more (think Agricole). And mixes well with the cola.

This is a decently made sweetened rum made for light pallets, but is way overpriced ($49-duty free store Cancun). It’s ok, glad I tried it, but look for it on sale or buy it to say you tried it. As for me, in a very rum unfriendly state (Ohio), I’ll search for some sugar juiced rum (cane-not molasses) for my next bottle.