Which of these rums would you choose


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Earl Elliott avatar image
Earl Elliott πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ | 236 ratings Author Posted 11 Feb '22

You walk into a liquor store and you can only purchase one bottle.Β  On the shelf is Diplomatico Ambassador at $300, a Zafra 30 at $200, and a Abuleo Centuria at $150.Β  This is a real life dilemna for me as I can only bring one bottle back to Canada with me.Β  Money is not an option, which one would you choose?

cowboykidd  avatar image
cowboykidd πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 12 ratings Replied 22 May '22

I have only tried the Zafra out of those, but it is really good.Β  While I have not tried the Abuela, I have tried the Centenario 30 mentioned by another poster.Β  It is quite good too.Β  It is different from the Zafra.Β  Much sweeter.Β  Both very good in their own ways.Β  Still not sure which I like more.Β Β 

Jagsroy avatar image
Jagsroy (PREMIUM) πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ | 288 ratings Replied 20 May '22

Earl

First I want to say that I so enjoy reading your reviews even if our tastes are different. I specially enjoy your information concerning "added sugar" which helps me choose or stay away from certain rums (I am a diabetic and strictly enjoy dry rums). To answer your question I would definitely stay away from the Diplomatico & Centurion rums as they are both quite sweet. I dont know the exact content of added sugar in the Zafra 30 but I believe it is much lower than the other two therefore that woukd be my choice.

please continue to post detailed reviews. πŸ‘

Mr. Rumantic avatar image
Mr. Rumantic πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ | 296 ratings Replied 16 May '22

Good to hear. There are so many great round rums that even capture 60% alcohol and more with a sublime elegance. You might find something nice in an online shop. When it comes to Panama Rum, take a look at the independent bottlers. Here the rum is imported untreated in the barrel and mostly bottled as a single cask or gets a finish in a certain type of barrel.

Β 

bar la moura avatar image
bar la moura πŸ‡­πŸ‡· | 168 ratings Replied 16 May '22

tanks for the tip, but here even zafra 30 is unavailable, only panamanian rums we can buy are abuelo that are sweetened ...

and fortunately i ve tried smooth rums without dosage ...

Mr. Rumantic avatar image
Mr. Rumantic πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ | 296 ratings Replied 16 May '22

@bar la moura: I guess you could be totaly right.

Unfortunately, it's a typical scam. And the bigger the number on the bottle, the more sugar gets in. The sugar has a purpose. It makes the rum soft and accessible. It catches the alcohol. The broad mass expects an old rum to be smooth and round. This is simulated with the sugar. If you want an old, honest and high-quality Panama rum, you should try the El Ron del Artesano 23 year old with the Amontillado or the 24 year old with the Sweetwine Cast Finish for the same money as the Zafra 30. You can buy them in Cask Strength and Drinking Strength. Here the numbers are right and it is a single cask without filtration and the addition of additives. That is the least i can expect from a rum over 100 bucks. Therefore... my opinion: hands off form the Zafra 30. So many better Panama Rums out there.. no offense to all who love Zafra 30. Have fun :) all good!!
bar la moura avatar image
bar la moura πŸ‡­πŸ‡· | 168 ratings Replied 16 May '22

look i had a bottle of zafra 21, it was good but sweetened (20 grams additives per liter, font rumtips.cz),

never tried the zafra 30, people say its special, very good, but if the 21 was sweetened, who tell me if the 30 yo is sweetened too ? it s same brand, what if they add sugar in the 30 too ?Β 

that s my fear, so i will never buy a bottle, if i have the occasion i will try it but ...

ok i will buy one if i find in the net that zafra 30 yo have dosage 0-5 grams per litre (that mean a honest rum to me)

RO
RonRumHead (PREMIUM) πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 33 ratings Replied 15 May '22

I only tried Abuelo Centuria at a restaurant for $25US/1 snifter. It was definitely worth the try, but I'm not buying it even tho the Total Wine & Spirits (think Disney World of alcohol) has it, I'm not buying it. I will say it was pretty good :)

Stefan Persson avatar image
Stefan Persson (PREMIUM) πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺ | 507 ratings Replied 21 Apr '22

Agge,

Zafra 21 is a very good choice if you like Panama rum.

The Zafra 30 is the best Spanish styled rum I've ever tasted.

They taste quite much like each other, but everything is a little bit better in the Zafra 30.

But the price difference is quite large so it's not an obvious choice if money is a narrow sector.

bar la moura avatar image
bar la moura πŸ‡­πŸ‡· | 168 ratings Replied 21 Apr '22

i had a bottle of the 21, the 30 not tried yet ...Β 

a friend of mine brought me a bottle from a trip in california (december 2018)

AG
Agge πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺ | 2 ratings Replied 20 Apr '22

So, what is the differece of Zafra 30 and Zafra 21

I have Zafra 21 but still unopend.

bar la moura avatar image
bar la moura πŸ‡­πŸ‡· | 168 ratings Replied 16 Apr '22

i ll chose none ! because all of them have sugar added after destillation ... but ok if i have to, the zafra from those 3

Wolfe Tone avatar image
Wolfe Tone πŸ‡³πŸ‡± | 124 ratings Replied 9 Apr '22

Tbh I'd skipp all three and pick a nice Agricole for much less. But then again, I can't stand the sweet latin style of rum.

Paul B avatar image
Paul B πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 472 ratings Replied 14 Feb '22

Earl:

Unfortunately, the Zafra 30 is nowhere to be found within 300 miles of where I live. I tried the Zafra 21 about 3 years ago and I rated it as a 7.

Earl Elliott avatar image
Earl Elliott πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ | 236 ratings Author Replied 13 Feb '22

Paul B.Β  Treat yourself and get a bottle of Zafra 30.Β  You won't regret it.Β  After seeing the responses to my question I am strongly thinking of the Zafra 30 as my selection.

Mr. Rumantic avatar image
Mr. Rumantic πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ | 296 ratings Replied 12 Feb '22

I would walk out happy with my money still in my pocket, cause all three are not worse it. Overpriced and low ABV. πŸ˜‡Β 

Paul B avatar image
Paul B πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 472 ratings Replied 12 Feb '22

Earl:

I already wasted my money on a bottle of Ambassador, so that one is out (too much sherry aging). The Centuria has too much added sugar, so that one is out. This leaves Zafra 30, which I have yet to try.

Β 

LO
locorican68 (PREMIUM) πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 30 ratings Replied 11 Feb '22

I have only tried the Abuelo Centuria, and it's an excellent rum. Β  As soon as I finish my bottle, I'll get another one. Β 

Stefan Persson avatar image
Stefan Persson (PREMIUM) πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺ | 507 ratings Replied 11 Feb '22

Earl,

I really like the Ambassador but Ron Zafra 30yo is the best Spanish styled rum I've ever tasted.

So Ron Zafra 30yo is my advice.