Zacapa XO Rum

This is an elegant, aged rum from Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, produced in Retalhuleu, Guatemala. It is exclusively crafted from the initial pressing of sugar cane, referred to as virgin sugar cane honey. Fermentation utilizes a unique yeast strain derived from pineapples, followed by distillation at sea level in continuous column stills. It is then aged for 6 to 25 years at a high altitude location known as 'The House Above the Clouds.' The rums are subsequently blended throughout their aging process in a series of barrels, starting with American Whiskey casks, then Sherry casks, Pedro Ximénez casks, and finally finished in French oak Cognac casks. It presents an aromatic introduction with notes of mature toasted oak, burnt caramel, bourbon, cedar, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, and subtle hints of tropical flowers and vanilla. Its rich and spicy character introduces flavors of dark cherry, sultana, date, prune, brown sugar, and toffee, leading to a prolonged, burnt, and smoky conclusion with notes of raw honey, more sweet chocolate, and root beer. December 2019 / April 2020

I really like Zacapa 23, and while it's a bit too sweet for me, I consider it a solid rum for a reasonable price. I had high expectations for the XO, but I can't say it fully met them. It's clear from the aroma that this will be sweet, with dark chocolate and a touch of orange peel. The palate is rich, with lots of sweetness and oak. I was hoping for more, but the sweetness kind of interfered. The finish is actually quite long and has virtually no heat. I believe the XO is superior to the 23, but considering it costs almost twice as much as the 23, I'm uncertain if it's worth it. When I first tried this, I was just beginning my rum journey and thought it was the best, but after sampling many others over the years, I no longer feel that way. It's still good, and if you're new to rum or have a preference for sweet drinks, this score could be increased to a 4, but it's simply too sweet for my taste.

The aroma presents abundant cane sugar, deep caramel, blood oranges, aged leather, a shoe box, pralines, bran muffins, and raisin bread. The latter notes are clearly from the cognac finish: unsweetened, baked brown raisins. The palate offers more cane sugar, a touch of agave, cola, herbal wood, and scorched caramels. The finish concludes with a subtle fruit presence, especially dates, again indicating its cognac origin. Compared to its sibling, Zacapa 23, this is not nearly as sugary, though it remains sweet, and is incredibly smooth. Despite the many confectionary notes, it doesn't become syrupy. Unlike Zacapa 23, it isn't dominated by chocolate and vanilla. Instead, this is a perfect blend of a top-tier cane sugar rum and a well-matured cognac cask.

A friend agrees, this one is somewhat lacking. You detect a subtle background of rich molasses and brown sugar sweetness, but it's a bit thin overall. While the cognac adds a fruity note, it also introduces some of cognac’s dry tannins that "complement" the thin, slightly raw spirit quality. It's not terrible, and I wouldn't refuse it, but I don't see myself buying it. Not currently available in Ontario.

Two years after my first taste of Zacapa XO... my opinion remains the same. This is one of the finest rums, offering the best value and taste I've had the pleasure to experience. While it's not as heavy and complex as Appleton Estate 21, it's still a fantastic sipping rum for those nights when you just want to relax and listen to your favorite music... Latin, Jazz, etc...

Zacapa XO begins with balance: honey and floral notes, with a touch of nuttiness and peach in the background. The alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming. It's quite good! However, it lacks a certain syrupy texture, making it feel too watery. The taste fades quickly, leaving only some woody notes, which is unfortunate. Overall, it's good but not worth excessive spending.