Zaya Grande Reserva 16-Year

Saw this in my local liqour store and the green label stood out on the Zaya bottle. 16 yr??? Decided to give it a try. I am very impressed. A lot of forward apple and vanilla flavors. Very complex profile. It is a 16yr blend, but this is a very nice, smooth rum that is great on the rocks. The finish is not as long and strong as the Zaya 12 yr, which is my favorite characteristic of the Zaya 12 yr. But this one is also much smoother... practically no burn. The finish is still relatively long and the apple and vanilla flavors linger. Overall at $23 USD (in Miami) this is a great value. I'll be buying more.

My liquor store has been out of the Zaya 12-year for about a month as have other stores around town so when I first saw the bottle with the different label I didn't even think to look at the age. I just thought that Patron was relabeling.

Actually, on first sip, I was a bit upset. I thought that my beloved Zaya had done a switcheroo and changed the recipe on me, just like they did with Pyrat Rum, originally from the Island of Anguilla in the British West Indies. Now, who knows?

I immediately noticed that the finish was not as long as before, the viscosity was thinner and the caramel/vanilla flavors were a bit more pronounced. But like any good soldier, I plowed forward and moved neatly into the Zaya 12-year groove that I know and love. Once I looked at the bottle and understood the age of what I was drinking, my faith in all things right in this world, was quickly restored.

I always drink my Zaya strait accompanied by a well-aged Cuban cigar and a good book. Duration: 2+ hours, at least 2-3 times a week. I drink Zaya exclusively when I smoke cigars and would love to discover something else just as tasty, different or better.

Excellent flavour, pairs very nice with cane cola. Smooth with subtle notes of Carmel and vanilla. Smooth finish as well. Reminds me a bit of the original smoothness of the first Zaya, before the distillery moved, but something else I can’t put my finger on yet...more testing required!

After more testing (2 years later) I have moved from a 8 to a 7, not sure if it changed or me. Now a little too much blending, too much vanilla...just not the same. :-(

Zaya Grande Reserva 16 year old rum is a great starter rum for your rum collection. Reasonably priced at $28 per bottle and now easily available in most liquor stores. Original Zaya 12y was pretty good, but now the new version struggles to earn a 7 since it's very overpowering sweet flavor profile. Zaya 16y is definitely on the sweeter side also, plenty of vanilla and butterscotch for sure but it has a very nice flavor profile and hardly any burn. Buy this bottle and compare it to Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, and the massive difference is obvious. Then go to your liquor and buy Diplomatico going onwards.

A very decent rum especially given the low price but it's not quite great. Sweeter than many rums with clear vanilla notes.

Very sweet, easy to drink and good value at under $30

It's very good, but it tastes and smells like cognac, not like rum.

Similar to 12 years old... Definitely vanilla taste...with spice...rich and little bit oily.

The older version (Zaya 12) was a sugar bomb too, but this one is even sweeter. Like liquid candy.
I jumped on it because of a significant price reduction... now I know why.

Very nice nose with a good body. Close to being a sipper but shines as a mixer with the right level of sweetness. This is not a rum that is sweet with that heavy aftertaste, it adds to the drink and I look forward to trying it in the blender. This is not for you if all you want is a dry sipper more like a whiskey, this is for the occasional sweet tooth