Zacapa 23 Anos
Review: Ron Zacapa Centrenario 23 Anos (94.5 pts)
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
I should note that the bottle I consumed was slightly different from the one currently available for sale. My bottle clearly says 23 anos rather than 23 solero. This is an older vintage which should be very similar to the version currently for sale.
IN THE BOTTLE (4.0 /5)
I want more bang for my buck here. The Cardboard sleeve housing the rum fell apart, and the woven grass band around the bottle deteriorated quickly. (Normally I would not be so harsh but in the case of this bottle I paid a hefty price to buy this rum for my collection.)
IN THE GLASS (9.5/10)
This is very rich and very complex. Nutmeg and allspice swirl around vanilla and dark molasses. There is also an earthy, oak filled taint to the nose which is most pleasing. I think I catch hazelnut and pecans in the air as well, but then again I might be imagining that I can actually tell the difference. As well, a nice slick of oil appeared on the side of the glass when I swirled it.
IN THE MOUTH (57.0/60)
The flavour is almost as good as the aroma. Almost, as I think I am catching a little too much oak tannin flavour making this ever so slightly bitter. There is a lot of complexity here and just the right amount of sweetness. I really like that the combinations of spices and nuts work so well with the molasses. This is a caramel, nut, spice bomb in the mouth.
IN THE THROAT (14.5/15)
More of the same. The burn in the throat is very gentle and that nice touch of oil ensures a long finish. If you like a touch of bitterness at the end this may be just perfect for you.
The AFTERBURN (9.5/10)
The only flaw is the touch of oak bitter at the very end. I can see why many consider this one of the finest rums. The bottle disappeared far too fast from my shelf.
This Review First Published on:
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Here are a few of my other reviews which may be helpful:
Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy
Pusser’s 15 Yr Old Navy Rum
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
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Other reviews of Zacapa Centenario Reserve you may find helpful:
Philip said
The “oil” you’re referring too is an alcohol component (glycerine/glycerol) and has very little if anything to do with fatty acids or oily substances, really.
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Philip
You are correct in your assessment, but not in you understanding of how I used the term. I use the word “oil’ as a descriptor which is meant as and adjective which describes that glycerin/glycerol component. The lay person understands that when I use the term ‘oil’ it refers to that buttery mouth feel and ability of the flavours to coat the tongue and throat, whereas if I used the term ‘glycerol’, that would probably leave the lay person confused. To be fair to you, you are not the first person to make the mistake in thinking that that I meant the word as a noun, as my early reviews were sometimes written a little sloppily. So in my more recent reviews I have began to make a conscious effort to be more clear about how the word is used. To be fair to me, when I was speaking with a person in the industry recently,Bols Flavour Expert, Peter Van’t Zelfde, he used the term ‘oil’ exactly as I did and neither one of us misunderstood the other.
Philip said
OK thanks for the feedback – good to know it’s a “formal” term to qualify viscosity and taste of spirts
Arctic Wolf said
I wouldn’t say it is formal, (as I admitted I am trying to do a better job when I use the term), but it is in the vernacular of at least some people in Industry.
Nuno said
Where can I buy this rum? The 23 Años and not the Solera nº 23…
Arctic Wolf said
The 23 Anos is no longer available.
Ian McDougall said
i got it at Co-Op Liquor store in Calgary, ab last week. $75.