Ron Zacapa 23 Solera

Dominant flavors: Chocolate covered cherry/Dr.pepper

I wasn't sure that I would, but I like this. In the past the bottle didn't explain that this was a blend of rums so I think buyers had different expectations for a 23 year old rum. If you know what your buying (a solera rum with some added sugar after distillation) then you won't be disappointed.
Prices on this stuff can be way too high bc of its popuIarity but once again Total Wine has great deals and this was $37. US in NJ.
Lately I've been interested in mostly more natural style rums like Doorly's, Mount Gay, or Don Q but I always keep at least one sugary rum around for when I want something really sweet. My last two sugar bombs have been Diplomatico RE and El Dorado 12. This rum is notably less sweet than both of those.
The nose is kind of bland and smells mostly of alcohol but not harsh.

The taste however is really nice like dried fruit, vanilla, and chocolate. I recognize some flavors in here that are much like Diplomatico RE but on a milder level and I appreciate that bc Diplo-RE is arguably overkill with its sweetness/spicyness. I have lowered its score by a point after tasting this bc I realize it could be less syrupy sweet and more balanced out.

Update: Zacapa 23 really isn't that sweet like some reviews say. It's definitely smooth but as I continue to drink a little each night this week I'm finding that I wish it had the same flavors but just a bit bolder. Or maybe I'm wanting a stronger finish?This is good beginner sipping rum to get used to some of the flavors found in darker/aged rum on a mild level.

Update 2: it's almost too smooth for its own good and because of that there's nothing that really pops. If too much ice melts in it, then it's reminiscent of FLAT CocaCola. Still enjoyable rum but it's something I wanted to note. I also noticed that this tastes like the base flavor of Diplo-RE b4 they bomb it with vanilla & sugar or whatever they use in there. Possibly why I think the finish is a little flat.

Un Zacapa corect, arome subtile dar corpolent, ușor dulce și totuși echilibrat. Un aftertaste persistent și deosebit. Recomand oricând ”straight” sau ”on the rocks”!

Ron Zacapa 23 Solera Gran Reserva 40% (Guatemala)

Eye: Light amber with green lip

Nose: Very sweet, round and even nose with a fine mix of marzipan, dark and light chocolate, butter scotch, honey, treacle, dates, apricot and lots of embrowned butter. A veritable fat sugar chock! At next nose there are a faint gun powder scent and vanilla, new cut tobacco and oiled teak. Very smooth, very sweet.

Mouth: Again, very sweet, sticky and rather short. Appealing ethanol at the end. Honey, marzipan and quince. A tad unrefined, on the verge of being simple. It´s not without its´ point but tend to appear as simplistic with a clear taste of pure sugar.

Reaction: Very difficult to define the nuances apart from what has already been said. It tastes alright and I am certain there are times it suits well if something sweet is needed, but really, that´s it. At the same time I pour again and again. It´s very drinkable but for the same reason I eat too much candy. The price is affordable and the access very good. It was one of the first rum I tasted and at that time I found it to be delicious so maybe I just had a bad day grading it.

82p

Price: 499 SEK
Tasted: 2016, in a Riedel Sommelier Cognac XO glass at room temperature.

Everyone stop getting your knickers in a wad over the 23 years on the label. If you know as much about rum as you say (think) youdo you understand that there are two traditional camps of rums English and Spanish. English usually list the youngest rume used on the label while Spanish tend to use the oldest. I'll leave it to you to figure out who is in which camp... Enjoy your pour!

This was one of the first quality rums that I have ever had. Had it in the Caymans a few years ago, and just found it in a store here in the US. Being new to quality rum, I did think that this was a 23 year old rum, but that was my fault. (well, mine and genius marketing) I remeber it being less sweet and a little dryer also. Don't know for sure which Ron Zacapa I had down there..... Probably wasn't this one.

It's smooth... It's better than the XO. It's sugared. It's colored. It's probably spiced.

edited to add sugar test results- 20-38g that's why it's so smooth.

I bought a bottle to see what all the hype was about and was left a bit disappointed. My first Solera style rum so maybe its my own fault ?
On removing the stopper and having a good "sniff" , i noticed..... Nothing !
Wheres the rum smell ? I tried again and still hardly any "nose".
My first sip and i thought very smooth and not too sweet as other comments have mentioned.No after burn but a nice warming in my chest a few seconds later. I will try another tasting in a week or two and see if my initial thoughts change any , but for now i feel a bit confused ?

Not much to say,its the best rum i ever tasted. A must have, it convinced some of my whisky or cognac-lover friends. Its rich in the nose,and even better in the mouth,a fruity-sweety explosion. Banana,butterscotch,brown sugar,toffee and many other delicate aromas share their place on your tongue,completing and balancing each other and not competing or supressing.The afterburn is long and amazing,sweet with the unique guatemalan heavy ,rich taste.
I need to add that this review and experience is 5year old,as the Zacapa 23anos had that octagonal bright brown paperbox. Nowdays,after the new owner Diaego took over the distillery,the design changed and its called Zacapa 23anejo with a black box.I have 2 bottles of this newer design and after finishing one i would give 9 stars only in a recent review.The quality decreased a bit.It's still amazing and i recognize the explosion ,but i taste younger blends,every experience is shorter as 5years ago. I think the rumours are true and to gain more profit,they 'streched' the original recipe with lesser quality,younger blends. I understand that,as Zacapa is probably the No.1 upper class rum brand,still it's a pity. Don't get me wrong,its a fantastic rum,one of the best, but the 23anos was a step closer to rum perfection

This one is amazing, I've had it straight, it's decent, I've had it with coke and Pepsi, it made it taste like some sort of fruit juice, there's a reason you pay $90 with tax.

Nice rum. The flavor is deep and balanced. But possibly, not so bright.