Objective Notes

Extremely Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

Aromas of caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and light spice on the nose with almost no alcohol reveals this is truly a special aged rum and entices you to your first sip. Initial taste stays close to the aromas but with the addition of raisin and better defining the spice into cinnamon and possibly nutmeg. A medium to heavy body warms the mouth ever so slightly and leads to a very long finish. A delight! 

Anecdotal Notes

Wile visiting the Tuscan town of Cortona (famous from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun) I ran across a nice Enoteca, or wine bar, and was completely surprised to see the full Zacapa family of fine rums, along with several others in the window. Of course I went inside for lunch and sampled several of their 30+ rums on their menu. The bottle is similar to the older bottles of Zacapa Centenario 23 años except with the addition of Etiqueta Negra (Spanish for “Black Label”) and it's much darker in color. That Zacapa left 23 años on the bottle, instead of taking it off as they now are doing on their regular Centenario 23, underscores how special this limited production rum is.

Taster’s Opinion

Ron Zacapa Centenario Etiqueta Negra is on par with the older bottles of Zacapa Centenario 23 años, making it one of the finest rums I have ever tried. It is priced at a significant premium over its current sibling, but if you want a special rum from the Zacapa Family, this is one to add to your collection. Availability in the USA is uncertain, but it is listed online.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Roger - 10 Flasks

Most recently tasted by: Roger, September 2008 in Cortona, Italy.

*750ml unless otherwise stated