Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2019

Finishing in Moscato casks
Abv: 45%

Tasted the 2019 in comparison with Royal, Aniversario 30, Edition Negra and XO. I will describe the nose and the taste of the 2019 first and then compare it to the others.

The nose is intensive and on the burned sugar and caramel side. I get the burned sugar with caramel first, then the typical Zacapa herbs and grasy notes. The typical Zacapa herbs, were very strong in the 2014 version, but there was not enough sweetness.
Further I get a mandarine note, behind of that the dry fruits -> plums, raisins, figs and a fermented note like ripe banana. Slightly I can smell some vanilla. Then there is a heavy note, like a wet barrel that is lying on earth.

The taste starts with caramel, dry fruits, ripe banana, figs and raisins, of course in combination with the typical Zacapa herbs (this is the magic taste of Zacapa). At the end of the initial taste I get some tannins, the taste turns a little bit bitter with a heavy note from the barrel.
As the rums gets warm the caramel turns into burned sugar and mandarine is rising on the palet. But not very long because the old barrel with earth floods the mouth. At the end I get the tannins from the wood and the mandarins again.
The finish starts with spice, burned sugar, mandarine, wood, some tannins and ends with dry fruits and raisins. The aftertaste is not very intensive and the flavors are something like caramel, date and mandarine. Because of the Moscato casks this rum has developed some mandarine aromas.
A good special edition in my opinion. Not very old, I think it's as old as Zacapa 23.

The taste is overall heavy and goes into direction of Royal, they have the 45% in common.
2019 is more sharp, younger and has more mandarine aroma. I would prefere more aging in case of 2019. It's intensive but I have the impression that this rum is a little bit thin.
Royal tastes more matured and more balanced of course.

The Zacapa XO is a a little bit milder and rounder. A little bit more matured, I don't have this thin impression here. The taste is more mellow, like there is some honey in the taste. I would prefer the XO, because of this mellow and incredible balanced taste.

Anniverarion 30 is in another dimension. This beatiful sweet and matured rum is so intensive and full bodied, it's better in every sense. I think if we would add further aging to 2019 this one could become also exceptional.

For the price of around 75€ this is a good special edition. Would rate it with 88 points.

Smell: caramel, herbs/plants, some fermented fruits, ripe banana, dry fuits (plum, date, raisins), some vanilla, toasted barrel and earth
Taste initial: caramel with dry fruits and ripe banana, figs, raisins, slightly tannins, wood and herbs
Middle: burned sugar, mandarine, barrel or old wood with earth, tannins, mandarine
Finish (middle long): spice, burned sugar, mandarine, wood, some tannins, dry fruits, raisins
Aftertaste: caramel, date, mandarine

Sweetness: 3.5/5
Fruits: 3.5/5
Spice: 3/5
Mildness: 4/5
Complexity: 3.5/5
Value (75€): 4/5
Experience level: amateur