Probably one of the sought-after rums in the world, especially by those who know next to nothing about rum and only follow what they see in advertisements saying that Zacapa 23 is the best rum in the world, and so they believe that Zacapa XO must be even better. This bottle was a gift by someone who believed that literature and thought they were giving me an amazing rum. I happily accepted it, as it was the second bottle I’d have. The first one I bought for $30 from someone who had left the country.
Diego Urdaneta
Read in the magazine (rotate your device for a better reading experience):
Zacapa’s website declares the XO to be a blend of rums aged between 6 and 25 years, made through the solera method. The raw material is sugar cane honey (or syrup) and though it is distilled at sea level, it is aged at 2300 meters above sea level. This aging occurs in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-PX casks. It is then finished for an additional year in ex-cognac casks.
Made by: Diageo / Destilería Zacapa
Name of the rum: XO
Brand: Zacapa.
Origin: Guatemala.
Age: 6 to 25 years, solera.
Price: $130
Nose: Medium alcohol kick, stronger than I expect from a rum that supposedly reaches 25 years of age. Scents include molasses, oak, tobacco, chocolate, vanilla, orange peel, caramel and bananas.
Palate: Feels dense, with flavors of banana and pineapple, but also some sugarcane, oak, nutmeg, cinnamon, walnut, figs, and caramel.
Retrohale/Finish: pineapple and banana, but also bourbon and oak.
Rating: 7.5 on the t8ke scale.
Conclusion: Though there is very little on the label and the creation process that inspires me to feel confident this rum is all it says it is, not everything is marketing and Zacapa XO is a very decent rum.
You don’t even need to like the over-the-top sweetness of the Zacapa 23 to enjoy this one, as it isn’t as sweet. However, I’m not sure of the price difference now since it’s been a long time since I purchased any of them, but for some time this XO cost about double what the 23 cost.
I don’t really mind dosed rums, as long as they aren’t too sweet (I think somewhere around 15 g/liter is my limit), and Zacapa 23 is certainly above that. But for an improved and more aged version of the 23, this one feels too expensive and not really worth it. Not thinking about the price, I could enjoy it.
