Scores from 92 to 94 points, aromas of toffee and tobacco and a number on the label that is not the rum's age
Ron Zacapa 23 is one of the best-known aged rums on Brazilian shelves. Launched in 1976 in Guatemala, according to Difford's Guide, it often appears in rankings and competitions. We gathered what named critics and reviewers have published about it.
The Beverage Testing Institute, which publishes its reviews on Tastings.com, gave Zacapa 23 94 points and a gold medal in a tasting on April 22, 2025, and named it that year's best aged fresh cane juice rum. In the previous review, from 2024, the score had been 92. The institute describes aromas of maple syrup, violets and devil's food cake, with tobacco and leather, and on the palate bitter chocolate, orange and toasted raisins; it recommends the rum for newcomers and experienced drinkers alike.
On the American site VinePair, critic Tim McKirdy gave it 92 points in June 2021. He points out a detail on the label: the 23 refers to the oldest rum in the blend, not the age of the whole. For McKirdy, the older components bring depth and texture, the younger ones keep it lively, and the result is silky.
Difford's Guide describes an aroma of toffee, caramel and tobacco, with overripe banana, cherry, coffee and roasted chestnut; on the palate, vanilla, cacao, cinnamon and nutmeg, and a long finish of hazelnut and caramel. The guide explains that the rum is made from virgin sugar cane juice rather than molasses and is aged in a solera: it passes through casks that held bourbon, whisky, sherry and Pedro Ximénez, and at each stage it is blended with older rums. The blend contains rums from 6 to 23 years old and finally rests for six months in American oak. All of the aging takes place in the mountains of Guatemala, at 7,650 feet, about 2,300 meters above sea level.
The Bebidário catalog also includes Ron Zacapa XO, from the same brand.
Sources: Beverage Testing Institute/Tastings.com (April 22, 2025), VinePair (June 23, 2021), Difford's Guide (April 9, 2016).
