Ron Zacapa XO

Because of the name XO on the bottle you get the impression that the taste would stay for a long time in the mouth. But after a few minutes i forgot what it was.

Zacapa XO är en rom som är... speciell... på ett positivt och negativt sätt. Färgen är rödaktigt brun med en fin mörk ton. I början stark doft av alkohol som övergår till toner av kola och vanilj, även en hint av mogna körsbär. Smaken är mycket kryddig, komplex med toner av vanilj. Eftersmaken håller länge och påminner en del om konjak, det är där man känner den stora skillnaden på gott och ont. Personligen så föredrar jag Zacapas Solera 23 då den är lite lenare i smaken, inte lika komplex som denna XO. Men intressant med lite omväxling ibland. Tycker dessutom inte att Zacapas XO är så prisvärd, men man får en fin flaska på köpet. Kul rom att bjuda på då reaktionerna blir väldigt olika.

Without a doubt this is a exquisite rum with notes of spicy toffee and vanilla and light fruits. I love this rum, I love the glass I had, but I cannot say I would recommend anyone to buy this rum. From $100.00 you can get far better rums almost anywhere in the US for less money. I found nothing in this bottle that stood out as outstanding when compared to other high-end rums I have had, and hell even other high end bourbons, cognacs and scotchs have more to offer than this in the $100.00 and up range that would be much better bey for the money. I just didn't get $100.00 of enjoyment out of this bottle, and that's a sham.

Man, I was so excited to try this out, but my experience with it was a very unpleasant one. For such an expensive rum, I was expecting a host of flavors dancing around my taste-buds, but that didn't happen at all. It was too much heat for my taste.

I honestly don't know why people are giving Ran Zacapa XO the high scores. It is very sweet.

The nose is nice with black sugar maple syrup and raisins, bu the tasting notes of...sugar and syrup are just overpowering. It is extremely mild with regards to heat. I think I'll put it on my pancakes.

I'd recommend the old Mount Gay XO if you can get it, Clement XO is nice too, or Rhum J.M. XO, which is likely my personal favorite so far.

Not really getting all that much for your money. Dense and cloying the 23 is better but that's not great either.

It does not taste with the same high quality as years ago. Better external packaging...

Had a glass of this, in a bar. Sometimes these get heavy in alcoholic taste when they are open for too long. Really nice smell and color but for Zacapa XO as well as Sistema Solera 23 I think sharp alcohol taste directly dominates everything, not giving space for any other of the nice aroma. Not at all my favorite!

This is for the late version (with the new drop-like bottle)

All in this bling-bling designed bottle smells like fake... but when you hold you feel like you are a millionaire with an exceptionnal refined aged spirit in your glass.
What does "XO" means for a Solera rum ? Seriously ? This abbreviation comes from Cognac and means 6-8 years old blend. This has no meaning on a undefined solera aging.

What is this incredibly dark color ? What did the put inside if not tons of caramel ? Even 15 years in new casks and tropical climate does not produce such dark hue.
In the glass, high viscosity and sticky drops on the walls show the richness of... no, shows the incredible amount of sugar they added in it ah ah.

Nose : some aromas comes form the casks . Cognac finish they say on the label. I don't know what they used. Sherry cask, PX or something ? whatever they used there must have been some sweet wine cask at some point. Not very refined nor complex but pleasant and easy. Actually it is maybe the best part. That being said the 40% abv is not very well integrated.

Palate : caramel, cheap chocolate and coco, syrup. Maybe some nuts and spices from the cask. Well it is easy and say drinkable (every booze seems "smooth"when you add some sugar syrup in it) , but where is the rum ?

Finish : short. The same aftertaste you have after eating a cheap candy. Your palate is dry and wants a big glass of water ^^

110€ for that cheap cloying liqueur ? A shame.
I would'nt say it is un-drinkable because the sugar+ alcohol+fudge combination has always something easy and pleasant but think I'd prefer to dissolve some fudge into cheap booze and have the same result.

I like it better vs the 23 from Zacapa but honestly don't like it much. This is a product that has brought a number of people back to rum but it's not for me personally. It's due to a level of additives that leaves me wondering what the real rum was. I have others that i prefer. Will leave it at that.