ZACAPA - Centenario XO Carafe Solera Gran Reserva Especial Rum - 40%
The Zacapa Centenario XO Solera Gran Reserva Especial Rum, presented in its prestigious iconic carafe and bottled at 40%, embodies the ultimate excellence and refinement of the Guatemalan house. Its deep mahogany color, shining with coppery highlights, announces a rum of exceptional aromatic richness. From the opening, the nose asserts itself: broad and captivating, it first delivers intense aromas of melted caramel, gourmet vanilla, cocoa, and refined molasses. Quickly added are notes of dried fruits — date, fig, prune — as well as a subtle touch of candied orange peel and dark honey. The background highlights a distinguished woodiness, thanks to aging in bourbon, sherry, Pedro Ximénez wines, and cognac barrels, bringing refined nuances of toasted hazelnut, toasted oak, and delicate rancio. From the very first nose, this premium rum impresses with its roundness, sensuality, and perfectly mastered aromatic balance.
On the palate, the Zacapa Centenario XO reveals a velvety sweetness, carried by a soft, broad, and very harmonious attack. Its aromatic palette, dominated by caramel, rich chocolate, candied fruits, and vanilla, expresses itself with a silky texture that envelops the palate. The solera aging system, Zacapa’s emblematic signature, adds complexity, with successive layers of dried fruits, spicy notes (cinnamon, light nutmeg), mild coffee, and elegant woodiness due to passage through different types of barrels. The low alcohol content (40%) favors finesse and creaminess, providing a warm sensation while avoiding any aggressiveness. At the finish, a hint of bitter orange and prune balances the sweetness, thus avoiding any heavy sugary feel. The finish, long and caressing, extends the pleasure with notes of chocolate, vanilla, deep honey, and roasted fruits, in a style of infinite softness.
This Zacapa XO, a true exceptional tasting rum, is ideally enjoyed neat, in a suitable glass, after a few minutes of aeration. It enhances pairings with slightly bitter dark chocolate, a delicate dried fruit tart, a caramel dessert, or a refined cigar. Its generous, silky, and consensual style makes it a great classic beloved by lovers of aged rums with mastered sweetness and incomparable aromatic intensity. More than a simple technical rum, it is a luxurious and timeless ambiance rum, appreciated for its roundness, complexity, and the precision of its multi-cask aging. The superb carafe gives it an aura of prestige, affirming its position as a high-end cuvée, ideal for collectors and all exceptional moments. Find Zacapa XO on Clos des Spiritueux, the reference for exceptional rums, to enrich your cellar or offer an exceptional gift to a connoisseur.
