ZACAPA - Centenario XO Rum Solera Gran Reserva Especial Decanter - 40%
Zacapa Centenario XO Rum Solera Gran Reserva Especial, presented here in its iconic decanter and bottled at 40%, embodies the most refined and luxurious style of the Guatemalan house. The deep mahogany color, bright and saturated with coppery highlights, signals a rum of great aromatic richness. The initial nose is broad, enveloping, dominated by notes of melted caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and fine molasses. Quickly, aromas of dried fruits—date, fig, prune—appear, along with hints of orange peel and dark honey. In the background, the noble woodiness of the successive barrels (bourbon, sherry, Pedro Ximénez wines, and cognac) brings nuances of toasted hazelnut, toasted oak, and soft rancio. From the outset, one perceives a rum designed for roundness and sensuality, with a broad but perfectly blended aromatic profile.
On the palate, the Centenario XO presents remarkable softness, almost velvety, carried by a smooth and very harmonious attack. The profile, rich in caramel, chocolate, candied fruits, and vanilla, expresses itself with a silky texture that coats the palate. The solera aging system, Zacapa’s signature, brings progressive complexity: layers of dried fruits, spicy touches (cinnamon, light nutmeg), mild coffee, and woodiness polished by the different types of barrels. The 40% strength favors finesse and creaminess rather than power, giving a warm sensation but never burning. A slight hint of bitter orange and prune balances the sweetness and avoids an overly massive sweetness. The finish, long and caressing, stretches over chocolate, vanilla, dark honey, and roasted fruits, in a very smooth style.
This Zacapa XO, a meditation rum par excellence, is ideally enjoyed neat, in a suitable glass, after a few minutes of aeration. It pairs magnificently with slightly bitter dark chocolate, a dried fruit tart, a caramel dessert, or even a delicate cigar. Its broad, silky, and very accessible style makes it a great classic among consensual aged rums, sought after for their controlled sweetness and aromatic depth. More than a technician’s rum, it is an atmospheric rum, luxurious and timeless, which seduces by its roundness, enveloping complexity, and the precision of its multi-cask aging. The decanter adds a dimension of prestige, reinforcing the status of an exceptional cuvée intended for lovers of great tasting moments.
