Review: Ron Zacapa Centenario
Rating: 
Ron Zacapa Centenario
www.ronzacapacentenario.com
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from Internet Wines and Spirits
Ron Zacapa Centenario is a legend amongst rums. According to many sources, it’s won so many tasting competitions that it’s actually been retired as a contender, and is instead used by the judges to calibrate their palettes as to what a truly fine aged rum can achieve. With such a lofty reputation, I was quite excited to finally try a bottle.
Centenario stands out on the shelves. The bottle is entirely wrapped in palm leaves – intriguing, but it does conceal the rum within. Upon opening the bottle, I was disappointed to note it was a plastic screwcap. And even worse, it had a non-removable plastic diffuser that one may expect from mixers, but certainly not from a 23 year aged rum with such a sterling reputation. (new bottles of Centenario seem to have a new, more sophisticated packaging.)
In the glass, Centenario has a brilliant red-amber color that’s both rich and inviting. To the nose it smells surprisingly like cream soda, but little else. Upon tasting Centenario – especially in light of the pedestal upon which it’s been placed by so many connoisseurs – I was perplexed. Ron Zacapa is sweet, and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste of nuts. Its body is moderate and unremarkable across the tongue. Actually, not much seems to be going on here. Centenario embodies very little of what I’ve come to expect from rum – be it top shelf, daily consumption, or rot gut. In fact, it just doesn’t taste much like rum at all. More like a liqueur, it seems like it should be mixed with coffee or high-end cocktails, but not consumed straight from a snifter or scotch glass.
Ron Zacapa Centenario is not a bad product by any means, but it hardly represents what I’ve come to expect from fine rum. It has much more in common with Frangelica, Amaretto, and other “liquid candy” liqueurs than it does with true rum. I’ve read that Centenario represents the pinnacle towards which all other rums should strive – I hope this isn’t the case, as I’m much happier with most other rums staying right where they are.
8 Responses to 'Review: Ron Zacapa Centenario'
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Thanks for that insightful rebuttal, Eveta. I consider myself humbled and forced to reconsider – perhaps Ron Zacapa is indeed the “best rum in the world”. All those other, seemingly superior rums I’ve enjoyed over the years were merely figments of my deranged imagination, I suppose.
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I agree that it is similar to a liquer, though there is a gentle, peppery burn that lingers with every sip, the sweetness is not over much. I have found that is contains so much depth that I often lose sight of the inital, profound sweetness.
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I, too disagree, with your assessment. I have never seen Ron Zacapa packaged as you describe-perhaps you did not buy the real thing. I have been drinking rum for 0ver 40 years, and Ron Zacapa is the best I have ever tasted. Everyone I serve it to marvels at it–perhaps your taste buds need to be defragged and rebooted. Alone, or with mixers, this rum rocks.
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Rum – as with most all beverages – is an incredibly subjective experience, and I would never suggest that my opinions would match everyone else’. I would, however, take exception to any implications that I might be so sloppy as to review the wrong rum, or that my lack of respect for Ron Zacapa is somehow a shortcoming on my part.
The packaging pictured is how Ron Zacapa was sold for many years, until more recently changing to a more classy bottle. And as to my taste buds, they’re just fine, thank you
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Bilge is right. Zacapa is not so much rum as a rum-based liquer … not bad … but not really good rum.
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I have been drinking Zacapa rum for over 3 years and have never seen the bottle pictured whether in the U.S., or Mexico. It has always been in a clear glass bottle with a woven band around the middle.
Perhaps the bottle you bought has been on a shelf for a very long time?
As for the bitter finish, I would venture a guess the bottle you have was at one time or more subjected to elevated temperatures and “cooked”. I tasted a bottle that had been left in a hot car all day here in Central Texas. Much of the flavor was gone and the finish was indeed bitter.
You may want to consider trying another taste from a newer bottle and a different source. You may be pleasantly surprised.
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I’ve got to pitch in on this, Mr. Bilgewater.
A few years back, I shared a bottle of this with friends in Guatemala.
It was the newer bottle style, and I bought it at a grocery in Coban.
From my experience, I have to defend zacapa 23s good name.
In my opinion, Zacapa 23 anos is to rums What a good Cognac is to Brandies.
I suspect your bottle was laying around the bilge a bit too long.
You Have No Idea of what your talking about!!! Rum Zacapa is the Best Rum In the world.