The art of the sipping rum isn’t lost, but it isn’t strong either. Most rums are made as inexpensive mixers – decent sugar cane based spirits with sweet and woody notes. But there are a handful of rums meant not to make cocktails, but to sip slowly as you would an aged Cognac. This XO (finished in Cognac barrels) exudes sophistication. It’s a dark amber colored rum that is crafted from sugarcane harvested from volcanic soil in southern Guatemala. This is a solera style, meaning that various rums aged between 10 to 25 years are blended together in order to provide both freshness and maturity. You will find sugared almond, resin, burnt butterscotch, and macerated apricot as the lead profiles here. The finish is nicely aligned with the use of Cognac barrels as there is the slight essence of them on the back palate on the way to the finish, with light spice, caramel and orange peel rounding out the flavors. This XO provides a smooth and mellow drinking experience and allows you to move past the tedious cocktail-mixer rums on the market and expand your palate. 93
Reviewed by Michael Cervin
Brand – Ron Zacapa
Spirit Type – Rum
Other Designation – Solera
Country of Origin – Guatemala
ABV – 40%
Bottle Size – 750ml
Price – $150
Score – 93
Date Reviewed – 5/12/2025