Ron Zacapa
Discover Ron Zacapa mastery and Ron Zacapa XO elegance from Guatemala's highlands
Silky, approachable sweetness
Caramel and vanilla core
Dried fruit and cocoa
Born in 1976 to mark Zacapa’s centennial, Ron Zacapa turns virgin sugar cane honey into smooth, complex rum. Matured at 2,300 meters in the House Above the Clouds and solera‑blended under Master Blender Lorena Vásquez, it marries caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, chocolate, and spice with poise. Handwoven petate bands honor Mayan craft, and the range holds International Rum Festival gold and Hall of Fame recognition.
On RumX, the world’s largest rum platform, community reviews place the range at a median 7.8/10. Fans praise accessibility and depth across bottles like Ron Zacapa XO Rum, Ron Zacapa Centenario XO, and Ron Zacapa 23 Solera, often noting silky sweetness, oak, cocoa, and warming spice. Explore trusted tasting notes, compare listings, and find your perfect pour.
Award-Winning Rums from Ron Zacapa
View all RumX Awards →
Top Rated Rums from Ron Zacapa
Ron Zacapa LA ARMONIA The Harmony Cask
<23yr 40%
Smooth caramel, vanilla; sweet, fruity character.
67 €
Ron Zacapa EL ALMA The Soul Cask (Heavenly Cask Collection)
<23yr 40%
Balanced, wood-forward Zacapa with caramel
78 €
7.8/
2,080 reviewsRating (0-10)
Flavor Profile of Ron Zacapa
Most Frequently Mentioned Flavors
RumX community voice
Members appreciate the brand’s approachable, dessert‑leaning profile: caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, cocoa, and gentle oak. Many highlight the easy sipping nature of Ron Zacapa 23 Solera, while others reach for Ron Zacapa XO and Ron Zacapa Royal when seeking extra depth. Notes of coffee, toasted wood, and subtle spice recur. Some remark on sweetness, yet balance and smooth mouthfeel keep Ron Zacapa Centenario widely recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ron Zacapa
RumX offers the world’s largest selection of rum through our innovative shop-in-shop marketplace, similar to Amazon. For Ron Zacapa rums, we currently have 152 offers starting from €39.90 across 15 partner shops including Rum & Co, Wein-Riegger, Urban Drinks, delicando, Whiskysite.nl, Rhum Attitude. Our platform compares prices in real-time from specialized rum retailers worldwide, ensuring you always find the best deals.
The RumX database currently contains 29 different rums from Ron Zacapa. This includes various expressions, limited editions, and bottlings across different age statements and proof levels. Our community has contributed over %!d(float64=2080) reviews for Ron Zacapa rums, making it one of the most comprehensive resources for exploring this brand’s full range. New releases are added regularly as they become available.
According to the RumX community, Ron Zacapa Centenario XO (1. Edition) 25yr 40% is currently the highest-rated Ron Zacapa rum with an impressive rating of 8.5/10 based on %!d(float64=15) reviews. This expression has earned praise for its exceptional quality and represents the pinnacle of what Ron Zacapa has to offer. However, taste is subjective, and we encourage you to explore the full range to find your personal favorite.
Ron Zacapa is an award-winning premium rum from Guatemala, known for its special production process and smooth taste. It is distilled from the first juice pressed from sugar cane (virgin sugar cane honey) instead of molasses and matures in the highlands at an altitude of around 2,300 meters in Guatemala’s “house above the clouds.” Through the Solera system in various barrels (former bourbon, sherry, Pedro Ximénez, and cognac barrels), Zacapa develops a complex, balanced character. The brand has been around since 1976 (founded on the 100th anniversary of the city of Zacapa) and each bottle is adorned with a hand-woven petate band as a sign of Guatemalan craftsmanship.
Ron Zacapa 23 is characterized by a very mild, sweet taste with pronounced notes of vanilla, caramel, and a hint of oak. The aroma also has nuances of honey, chocolate, and dried fruit, giving the rum a dessert-like profile. Overall, it is considered extremely accessible – in the RumX community, it is described as “emphatically pleasing” with dominant sweetness and only slight spiciness. Despite the intense sweetness, the finish remains soft, slightly fruity and accompanied by a hint of oak, which many connoisseurs appreciate about Ron Zacapa.
Ron Zacapa rum is best enjoyed neat at room temperature or on the rocks to bring out its full aroma. Master blender Lorena Vásquez recommends Zacapa 23 neat or with a single ice cube, while the even more refined Zacapa XO should be served neat (without ice) at room temperature. Thanks to its smooth, sweet profile, Zacapa does not need to be mixed – it can be used in a classic cocktail such as an Old Fashioned, but it is when served neat that the notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak unfold best.
No – the number ‘23’ on the label does not mean that the rum has been aged for 23 years straight. Ron Zacapa 23 is a blend of different vintages, containing rums aged between approximately 6 and 23 years. According to industry observers, the average age is closer to 6–8 years; only the oldest component reaches 23 years. This practice led to class action lawsuits in the US in 2021, where consumers argued that the prominent ‘23’ on the packaging was misleading. The TTB (US regulatory agency) only permits voluntary age statements in the form ‘X years old,’ where X must be the age of the youngest distillate—meaning Ron Zacapa 23 would need to be labeled as ‘6-year-old rum.’ The lawsuits highlight a broader issue with Solera age statements in the rum industry.
The Solera process is a maturation storage system in which rums of different vintages are gradually blended together. The barrels are stacked on top of each other in several layers – the youngest distillates are at the top and the oldest at the bottom. At certain intervals, some of the rum is removed from the lower barrels and replaced with rum from the row above, so that old and young rums are continuously blended. This creates a harmonious blend with a consistent flavor profile; in Ron Zacapa 23, for example, this blend includes components aged between 6 and 23 years, combined to create a smooth, complex rum.
Ron Zacapa XO is the brand’s ultra-premium variant and differs significantly from Zacapa 23 in terms of maturation and taste. While Zacapa 23 is a blend of rums aged between 6 and 23 years, XO contains even older distillates – it combines rums aged between 6 and 25 years and is given an additional finish in French cognac oak barrels. This gives the XO a more complex flavor profile (including notes of dark cherry, chocolate, dried fruit, and spicy oak) and makes it seem drier and less sweet overall than Zacapa 23. In addition, XO is significantly more expensive and is primarily enjoyed neat at room temperature, while Zacapa 23 is more versatile and also cuts a fine figure ‘on the rocks’ or in elegant cocktails.
Ron Zacapa Edición Negra (also known as Etiqueta Negra) is a special edition that differs from the classic Zacapa 23 in its stronger barrel selection and more intense flavor. For Edición Negra, the rum is additionally aged in double-charred oak barrels, resulting in pronounced smoky and woody notes – RumX tasters describe aromas of dark roasted wood, coffee, and dark chocolate in this rum. At 43% ABV, Edición Negra has a slightly higher alcohol content than Zacapa 23 (40% ABV), which makes it slightly stronger and drier on the finish, despite having a similar sweetness. Overall, Edición Negra can be seen as a ‘smoky twist’ on the Zacapa style, while the regular Zacapa 23 is better known for its smooth, vanilla and caramel-accented sweet profile.
Yes, Ron Zacapa is one of the rums that is sweetened after production, which explains its mild, liqueur-like taste. Interestingly, the sugar content has changed over the years: older bottlings contained up to 45 g per liter, while current versions have been reduced to around 20 g/L. In addition to sugar, experts report that glycerin and vanillin are also added to make the rum smoother and more accessible. This practice is legally permitted but criticized by purists, who argue that sweetened rums like Zacapa create false expectations. Unsweetened rums like Appleton Estate, Mount Gay Extra Old, or Flor de Caña show what rum tastes like without additives. That said, for beginners, Zacapa’s sweetness is often a plus that makes entry into the rum world easier.
Ron Zacapa is considered one of the most famous ‘gateway rums’—a gateway to the rum world for beginners. Its smooth, sweet aroma (caramel, vanilla, dried fruit) makes it extremely accessible and sparks interest in rum for many people for the first time. At the same time, the brand has built prestige through numerous awards (multiple gold medals, induction into the Rum Hall of Fame). The interesting production history—high-quality sugar cane juice, maturation at 2,300 m altitude, Solera system—supports the premium image. In 2011, Diageo acquired a 50% stake in parent company ILG, providing worldwide distribution but also attracting criticism (some claim the rum has become sweeter since). Despite controversial discussions among connoisseurs, Zacapa remains globally available, affordable, and reliable—an ’easy sipper’ that doesn’t offend anyone.
The core range of Ron Zacapa includes several bottlings. The best known is Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera (a blend of 6-23 year old rum), alongside the even more refined Ron Zacapa XO (a blend of 6-25 year old rums, with additional maturation in cognac barrels). There are also special editions such as Ron Zacapa Edición Negra (smoky, matured in extra charred barrels, 43% ABV), the limited edition Heavenly Cask Collection (e.g. ‘La Doma,’ ‘La Armonía,’ ‘La Pasión’) and, as the crowning glory, Ron Zacapa Royal (a blend with proportions up to approx. 30 years old, 45% ABV). Each variant has its own profile – which one is best depends on the drinker’s taste. Ron Zacapa 23 is considered a versatile all-rounder and an introduction to the brand, while bottlings such as XO or Royal offer more depth and are appreciated by connoisseurs for special occasions.
That depends on your expectations. For beginners, Ron Zacapa 23 offers excellent value for money: it’s globally available, consistent in quality, and makes entry into premium rum easy. On RumX, it receives solid ratings from the community. However, you should know that the rum is sweetened and the average age is 6–8 years (not 23). For the same price (around €40–50), you can also get unsweetened alternatives like Appleton Estate 12, Flor de Caña 12, or El Dorado 12, which are often preferred by connoisseurs. As a ‘gateway rum’—to find out if you like rum at all—Zacapa 23 is a safe choice.
Ron Zacapa is one of the most controversial rums in the world—opinions couldn’t be more divided. The main criticisms: First, the misleading age statement—the ‘23’ on the label only refers to the oldest component, while the average age is 6–8 years. In 2021, this led to class action lawsuits in the US. Second, the high sugar content (formerly up to 45 g/L, now around 20 g/L) plus additives like glycerin and vanillin—purists argue it’s no longer ‘real’ rum. Third, the 2011 Diageo acquisition—some claim the rum has become sweeter and less balanced since. Yet nobody is indifferent to Zacapa. It has introduced many people to the rum world and remains a solid starting point for beginners.
If you like Ron Zacapa, you’ll probably also enjoy these rums: Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela)—similarly sweet and vanilla-forward, often even sweeter; Don Papa (Philippines)—also very sweet and dessert-like; Santa Teresa 1796 (Venezuela)—comparably smooth but slightly drier. If you want less sweetness, try: El Dorado 15 (Guyana)—sweet but more balanced; Ron Botran (Guatemala, same distillery as Zacapa)—less sweet, more depth; Flor de Caña 12 or 18 (Nicaragua)—drier, less sugar; Angostura 1919 (Trinidad)—mild but noticeably drier. On RumX, you can filter by similar flavor profiles and compare community ratings.
The XO costs about twice as much as the 23 (around €80–120 vs. €40–50)—whether it’s worth it depends on your priorities. Flavor-wise, the XO is more complex, drier, and less sweet than the 23: the cognac cask finish adds notes of dark cherry, chocolate, and spicy oak. The community is split: some say ‘better, but not twice as good,’ others appreciate it for special occasions. If you love the 23 and want more depth, the XO is worthwhile. If you generally prefer less sweet rums, there are better alternatives in the XO’s price range (e.g., Appleton 21, Foursquare bottlings). Tip: Try the XO at a bar first before investing.
Ron Zacapa has changed noticeably since the Diageo stake in 2011. The most obvious difference: sugar content was reduced from up to 45 g/L to around 20 g/L currently. Yet many tasters report that the current rum tastes sweeter and less balanced than pre-Diageo bottlings—possibly due to changed additives or blending recipes. The old version is often described as ‘more cohesive,’ while the new one is ‘out of balance.’ The label has also changed multiple times—it used to say ‘23 años,’ which suggested 23 years of aging even more strongly. The core question remains: Is today’s Zacapa still the same rum that won all those awards? Opinions are divided.
Yes and no—Ron Zacapa is probably the most famous ‘gateway rum’ of all. Its advantages for beginners: it’s smooth, sweet, and accessible, barely burns in the throat, and the vanilla-caramel notes are pleasant for most. Many rum fans started their journey with Zacapa. However, it has a downside: it can create false expectations. Those who only know sweetened rums might perceive unsweetened classics (Appleton, Mount Gay, Flor de Caña) as ’too harsh’ or ’too dry.’ Our tip: Start with Zacapa if you like, but also try an unsweetened rum in parallel. That way you’ll develop a complete picture of what rum can be—from the accessible beginner version to complex pure rum.
All Rums from Ron Zacapa
- Ron Zacapa Sistema Solera 23 <23yr 40% RX4
- Ron Zacapa Centenario XO Solera (3. Edition) <25yr 40% RX23
- Ron Zacapa Edición Negra <23yr 43% RX48
- Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Años <23yr 40% RX24
- Ron Zacapa Royal <30yr 45% RX107
- Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2019 <24yr 45% RX221
- Ron Zacapa EL ALMA The Soul Cask (Heavenly Cask Collection) <23yr 40% RX11115
- Ron Zacapa Centenario XO Solera (2. Edition) <25yr 40% RX812
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