Zafra Master Reserve 21

Sho'nuff! This is where sweet rum drinkers start mellowing out a bit. Pleasant fruit smell with a hint of wood aroma. The taste has just the right amount of sweetness that can be enjoyed by both the sugar fans (Bruce Leeroy) and the dry rum drinkers (Shogun of Harlem). The wood flavor could be considered a little heavy for some but I think it keeps things interesting. The burn and after taste make for a great experience. Zafra 21 is a must have for any person who enjoys sipping rum. Great stuff.

I just picked up a bottle of this rum in Key West after discussing it with Bahama Bob Leonard. I got it home and tasted it for the first time and I absolutely love it. It is a very smooth rum with great flavor. I almost gave it my 2nd 10. After a few more sessions with it, I may just have to do that.

As most rum lovers I’ve started my rum journey among the Spanish styled ron. Nowadays there are not more than around 15 left in my cabinet. The ones that still stand out are especially two brands from Panama, Zafra and Malecon. Can maybe depend on that “Don Pancho” has been involved in both. So Zafra 21 is still one of my favourites to a reasonable price. It’s complex, not extremely sweet, smooth, has rich flavours and a very nice afterburn. If it wasn’t for the Zafra 30 I should have given it a 10, but now I stop with a 9 till I have tasted my Zafra 30.
Pictures: My Panama shelf & My two Zafra’s.

Its Panamanian rum made by the same maker as Havana Club. However, it doesnt taste anything like Havana Club but it taste exactly like Cartavio XO. A lot of sweetness, smooth, almost no burn, and it taste like molasses with hint of orange peel. If u like sweeter rum, this is probably your taste.

Now here's an oddball. First marketed as Panamanian, then it changed to - Trinidad. Anyhoo, the taste is just bland, sweet and off. Not my cup of tea - I wouldn't waste money on this.

Sehr netter Rum vom Meister Fernandez.
Schönes goldenes Bernstein im Glas.
In der Nase trocken Früchte, Karamell, etwas herbe Kräuter und ein wenig Holz.
Im Gaumen auf einem rauchigen Holzbrett geschnittene reife tropische Früchte mit Vanillepudding und Karamell-Sauce.
Im Abgang schön geschmeidig und langanhaltend, eine dezente Süsse wie bei einer zartbitter Schokolade.
Ein durchaus süffiger Rum auch für Einsteiger.
Ich finde in dieser Preisklasse den Don Pancho 18yo bedeutend besser. Hat einen voluminöseren Körper
und ist deutlich komplexer.

Very nice rum from the master Fernandez.
Beautiful golden amber in the glass.
In the nose dry fruit, caramel, some tart herbs and a little wood.
In the palate, on a smoky wooden board cut ripe tropical fruits with vanilla pudding and caramel sauce.
In the finish, beautifully supple and long-lasting, a subtle sweetness like a dark chocolate.
A very tasty rum also for beginners.
I find the Don Pancho 18yo much better in this price class. Has a more voluminous body and is much more complex.

The Zafra Master Reserva 21 is a molasse rum from Panama which was supposedly stored in bourbon barrels for 21 years. The rum is produced in Column Still gets bottled with just 40% alcohol. The beautiful mahogany-coloured dark rum comes in a rather uninspired bottle, which looks rather boring and not high quality. Sugar is added. About 15g/l.

The rum is appealing in the nose and has beautiful oak and wood notes. Caramel and vanilla are there and also dried fruits such as raisins. On the palate, the rum is a good mixture of dry and sweet, fruit and seasoning. Caramel and fruit are captured by oak and vanilla. All very appealing. The finish is only medium long and is accompanied by wood, some nutmeg and barrel notes. For me the rum was a little too thin and watery. Also, the sharpness was not well integrated, even if it was not intrusive or intense.

Overall I find the rum good but it definitely lacks the kick and the aromas are getting boring over some time. That certain extra is missing. The body could be more full-bodied, which would certainly emphasize the existing complexity. For me, the rum is too diluted and 43% or 45% would make it so much better. What a pity. It was my Daily Sipper.

Der Zafra Master Reserva 21 ist ein Melasse Rum aus Panama welcher angeblich echte 21 Jahre in Bourbon Fässern gelagert wurde. Der im Column Still Verfahren hergestellte Rum wird mit mageren 40% Alkohol abgefüllt. Der schöne Mahagoni farbende dunkle Rum kommt in einer eher uninspirierten Flasche , welche eher langweilig und nicht hochwertig wirkt. Es wird Zucker hinzugefügt. Ca. 15g/l.

Der Rum ist in der Nase ansprechend und hat schöne Eichen und Holznoten. Karamel und Vanille sind da und auch getrocknete Früchte wie z.b. Rosinen. Am Gaumen ist der Rum eine gute Mischung aus Trocken und Süß, Frucht und Würze. Karamel und Frucht werden von Eichenholz und Vanille eingefangen. Alles sehr ansprechend. Der Abgang ist nur mittellang und wird durch Holz, etwas Muskat und Fassnoten begleitet. Ich habe den Rum bein Trinken als etwas zu dünn und wässrig empfunden. Die Schärfe war wenig eingebunden auch wenn sie nicht aufdringlich oder intensiv war.

Insgesamt finde ich den Rum lecker und gelungen, es fehlt aber definitiv der Kick. Das gewisse Extra. Er wird mit der Zeit langweilig. Der Körper könnte vollmundiger sein, was die vorhandenen Komplexität sicherlich noch hervorheben würde. Für mich ist der Rum zu stark verdünnt und 43% oder 45% würden ihm gut tun. Schade. War mein Daily Sipper.

It tastes like what I feel a great aged run should taste like; subtle yet intense in flavor and yet sweet without being overly sweet. Not as sweet as a Diplomatico or Zaya but not as dry as a Appleton or Mount Gay. I feel fortunate to have been able to purchase this bottle at the price I did for what I got in return.

Primero abuelo ahora este ron zafra en una presentacion sencilla, pero hasta ahí llega su sencillez uno de los rones más complejos que he probado con un aroma dulce pero no empalagoso, con un sabor extraordinario saltan las almendras frutos oscuros y la madera Añeja, es suave al paladar e igualmente sabroso si te lo encuentras en el camino llévatelo no te arrepentirás .

I've been enjoying this rum. Kind of like Santa Teresa but with more oak and the dryness the wood brings. Very smooth, without relying on sweetness. The heat of the alcohol lingers and so I find myself enjoying it more with an ice cube.