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

A beautifully deep, dark mahogany-brown color from aging for a generation in oak, turns slightly more red when held up to a light.  The higher ABV (45%) is noticed immediately on the nose, transporting the refined spirit’s deliciously sweet aromas to your senses more quickly.  It’s as if the long time spent in oak made the rum long for appreciation, so it doesn’t hesitate to impress and satisfy.  A heady blend of vanilla, oak, caramel, sweetness from cane and dates are presented in full splendor. Then, consummately delicate hints of spice such as clove, anise, and maybe cinnamon appear. The aromas are heavily sweet; nonetheless everything is balanced and mesmerizing to your nose.  Initial tasting slowly but surely overwhelms your senses with delectable waves of sweet rum nectar, complex but whole, with flavors matched to the aromas but with a deeper, more physical expression.  A heavyweight body, almost syrupy in texture, traverses your palate slowly, spreading charmed flavors more like a long sea swell than a simple little taste. The finish is exceptionally smooth and long in duration, almost chewy like dates, with no alcohol burn.

Anecdotal Notes
Ron Zacapa’a beautiful portfolio of rums are produced from cane honey (a cane juice reduction to a blond-colored syrupy consistency) fermented with yeast extracted from pineapples and column distilled.

The rums are uniquely aged and blended at a facility situated high in the mountains (almost 8000 feet altitude) near Quetzaltenango, where the daytime temps are warm, but cool at night, slowing the aging process, and permitting more time for contact with the American and French oak barrels.  There, the air is more humid and less dense than at lower elevations, enabling Zacapa to reduce evaporative loss of the rum to the Angel’s Share.

For a more thorough understanding of Ron Zacapa’s distilling, aging and blending techniques, please see Rene van Hoven’s excellent article and interview with Master Blender Lorena Vasquez here: 

http://www.cigarroslatinos.ch/default.asp?s=4774&wt=1

In April 2008, Diageo began a three year distribution and joint marketing

agreement with Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, a group of companies for the Zacapa rum brand, giving Diageo global distribution rights, although Central American duty free shops are excluded.  Perhaps this explains the large difference (3X) in the price I paid in a Belize duty free shop versus online stores.

Each bottle is tagged and numbered.  In Belize, Dave purchased bottle number 040 from Barrel 001, which appears to be the same style bottle as used for Zacapa’s 15 and 23 year old rums.  However, the Straight from the Cask bottle had thicker, more coarse strands used in the hand-woven royal palm leaf cummerbund encircling the bottle.  Whether this was an intentional or simply random difference I cannot say, but you can watch the hand weaving performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NE9voc5Oms&feature=player_embedded

Taster’s Opinion
Dave – For many cane spirit lovers, Ron Zacapa’s rums are the benchmark by which other rums are held up to.  Ron Zacapa Straight From The Cask sets a high bar with the distiller’s own portfolio.  It is exceptional, such that no connoisseur’s collection can truly be complete without some. Slightly less oaky and fruity than Zacapa XO, but with a heavier body, Straight From The Cask’s higher alcohol (40% vs 45%) enables the impressive aromas and flavors to express themselves with an even greater intensity than we’ve come to expect from this world-class distiller. Somehow I’ll have to find a way to visit the folks at the Ron Zacapa distillery and aging rooms to uncover even more trasures.

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

Most recently reviewed by: Dave, March 2010 at RnD’s South tasting room, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.