Mount Gay’s Eclipse Rum is a gold rum with a brilliant amber color and a strong flavor to match. It combines floral and fruity notes for a unique and distinctive aroma of banana, apricot, and vanilla. Ron Zacapa 23 is a unique balance of complex aromas and flavors resulting from the special blend of reserve rums. We hand select rums aged between 6 and 23 years for our “Sistema Solera”. Older and younger rums are then blended as they age in a sequence of barrels that previously stored robust American Whiskeys, delicate Sherries and find Pedro Ximenez wines.” When it's time to start fermentation, we introduce our own strain of yeast extracted from pineapples: Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast produces the precise aromatic compounds Zacapa requires, and so we ferment slowly, to give the yeast the time it needs to work. Distillation is what defines the character of Zacapa. A single column still, lined with copper to add flavour and remove impurities, is used to distil Zacapa Rum. And to ensure the correct balance is achieved, the whole process is minutely controlled by our experts. The RZ 23 was a rum I was looking forward to. It have some reputation. Unfortunately it didn't live up to it.

We may have similar tastes – also agree with you on Mt. Gay XO, Flor de Cana (just not a lot there), and Appleton 12 year. That last one has amazing flavor but IMO a little burn going down. If I ever saw the 21 year in a store I’d try it. The brand’s Navy Yard rum comes in at 55% ABV, or 110 proof. While higher than standard rum, its relatively low ABV (when compared to Navy strength rums) means the bottle has a gentle infusion of oak without overpowering the rich flavors of the spirit. It’s distilled in Massachusetts, United States, on a salty marsh near the ocean, which gives a slightly briny edge to the spirit. Expect notes of apricot, cinnamon, fig, and tobacco as you enjoy this drink.Foursquare’s Cask Strength rum comes in at a higher ABV of 59% and offers an intense drinking experience to match. This single-vintage rum is aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon casks and offers a rich character with plenty of varied notes. In general, though, this is a very pleasant, very enjoyable rum with a very distinct presentation, gorgeous looking bottle with some extra flair of the Mayan petate band. The 500 year-old Spanish Sistema Solera method is used to age Ron Zacapa 23 in white oak casks. This results in a combination of rums aged between 6 and 23 years. If you want to contrast and challenge your palate, I would recommend a fresher choice with citrusy top notes, like a key lime pie. Or you could alternatively consider pairing this with a freshly cut ceviche, where the tangy acidity perfectly matches with the rum.

This my go to nightcap. Very smooth and easy to drink. Caramel flavours, but not too sweet. A lovely sipping drink. I... actually am kinda on the fence about this one. It's like... weirdly thin? But it's also really tasty, smooth and drinkable. There are definitely better Guatemalan Rums out there. The nose is immediately lured into a creamy sweet, caramelized sugar aroma. An abundance of sweetness is the first impression, slowly transforming into forest honey notes. Some nutty qualities start to emerge, whilst a charred, roasted hazelnut and some almonds add a layer of complexity. I am even beginning to think that my favorite El Dorado rums are sweetened, though it is less dominant and actually compliments the robust flavors of the Demeraran rum. The same could be said for Zaya and this one, though IMO the sweetness is considerably more forward. The Zaya and zacapa are robust enough to still be interesting, while Diplomatico Reserva and Ron Fortuna 8 yr both taste flat and boring to me. Ron Fortuna 8 yr is the worst offender yet, nauseatingly sweet and bland. Both probably were decent subtle rums before being sweetened within an inch of their lives.Ron Zacapa is cleverly marketed by Diageo as “Sistema Solera” which whilst a perfectly legitimate method of producing rum, immediately leads many to believe they are buying a rum that is 23 years old. This is something which is often frowned upon by rum connoisseur’s and reviewers. Personally, I have never bought a rum based solely on the age of the rum. I have of course bought an older expression, if for instance it is on sale and is less than the lesser aged rum but it is not something which I judge rum’s upon. There are rum’s in my cabinet which I rate very highly and I do not actually know how “aged” they are. The “Sistema Solera” method is described on the cardboard sleeve as…. With this, I can do it. On the nose I get hints of vanilla, cocoa, and caramel. I've never been a big fan of bananas, and I was expecting that, but I get something more along the lines of plantain, which while I wouldn't say I like, I definitely prefer over banana. A very darkly roasted mahogany brown color strikes the eye. As always, the color of certain spirits can be altered, since the usage of sugar caramel is quite common. However, the viscosity and the legs will always provide an indication of certain compounds and qualities of the spirit. Ron Zacapa 23 Solera Rum was created in 1976 in the highlands of Guatemala, where it is distilled in a copper-lined column still from fresh cane juice before solera aging.