Matured in a series of casks previously used to store robust American whiskies, delicate sherries & fine Pedro Ximenez wines Once its juices are extracted (mostly by hand), Zacapa is then aged and blended in in the highlands of Quetzaltenango, in the “House Above the Clouds”, 2300m above sea level. This climate provides a slow ageing process, giving a better combination of aroma and flavours in the rum. “Sistema Solera” In the “Sistema Solera”, art and tradition encourage the blending of rums of different ages and personalities so that they may continue to mature in select barrels. This dynamic and artisanal process culminates only after the complexity of aromas and flavors confirm that unique, mature rum has been created”

On the nose you get some alcohol, toffee, fruit, vanilla, wood and spices. After a while the alcohol disappears and the other flavors gets more intense. In mouth the Zacapa 23 is smooth and sweet with some spice and a lot of vanilla. The Zacapa 23 comes in a paper box and a very nice bottle with the classical woven band around it (image). Our plantation is located on the volcanic plains of Retalhuleu, 350m above sea level in south-western Guatemala. Due to the fertile, acidic soil and year-round sunshine, no other place in the world is better suited to the cultivation of sugar cane. Most rums use molasses, a by-product of the sugar making process, as their base; Zacapa, however, is different. To impart a sweeter, smoother flavour, Zacapa uses only the concentrated first press of sugar cane, known as virgin sugar cane honey. This is the very point at which our rum's remarkable taste and profile begin to develop. As a brand, Banks is all about exploration. From its name, which comes from the 18th-century explorer and botanist Sir Joseph Banks, to its offering, which combines more than 20 rums of different ages from Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, and Indonesia. A household name, it’s hard to go wrong with a bottle of Diplomatico. The brand originates from Venezuela and is one of the biggest rum producers in the country.

I... actually am kinda on the fence about this one. It's like... weirdly thin? But it's also really tasty, smooth and drinkable. There are definitely better Guatemalan Rums out there.

Hailing from Georgia, United States, Richland is an award-winning single-estate distillery and holds the title of being the only single-estate distillery in the States. The name comes from the town in which the rum is produced – Richland – and uses sandy soil, natural waters, and warm sunshine to create its offerings. Sipping it like that has really changed my whole understanding of rum. I've always enjoyed Captain Morgan, but this blows them out of the universe. I'm sipping it right now and it's hard to describe, but... Demerara: A term for rums that originate from Guyana. The name stems from the Demerara river, home to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) facility, rather than the type of sugar. The brand’s Navy Yard rum comes in at 55% ABV, or 110 proof. While higher than standard rum, its relatively low ABV (when compared to Navy strength rums) means the bottle has a gentle infusion of oak without overpowering the rich flavors of the spirit. It’s distilled in Massachusetts, United States, on a salty marsh near the ocean, which gives a slightly briny edge to the spirit. Expect notes of apricot, cinnamon, fig, and tobacco as you enjoy this drink.

The "z" rums - Zaya, Zacapa, Zafra - as well as Diplomatico and others have led people to believe aged rums should be sweet and smooth, while drier genuine rums - Appleton 12 yr, Mount Gay extra old, Flor de Cana, Seales 10 yr, any agricole rhum - are more indicative of what rum SHOULD taste like in its unaltered state, but less appealing to most people's palates.