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

Zaya is a medium bodied amber colored rum. It has a light aroma of sweet brown sugar that almost puts you into a trance before your first taste. It begins velvety and buttery with a nice bouquet of brown sugar, spice, and light butterscotch flavors (almost like Werther's Original Candy). You notice it's slightly viscous as it envelopes your tongue and melts in your mouth. It finishes very nicely like a warm brown sugar blanket on your tongue and throat that perpetuates. As soon as you savor your first taste you know you have something out of the ordinary. It puts a smile on your face as it allures you into another taste.

Anecdotal Notes
I received Zaya Rum as a gift from my wonderful wife for Christmas. She had done her homework by finding a terrific rum that I hadn’t tried before, as it was new to the local rum shop (otherwise known as the Oregon State Liquor Store). It comes in a tall clear bottle with dried palm leaves woven at the neck below the cork closure device. Overall a handsome bottle and simple presentation that is worthy of the great quality inside.

Zaya is estate produced and bottled in Guatemala where rich volcanic soils and tropical temperatures produce some of the best sugar cane in the world. Zaya is produced using the finest sugar cane hand selected from the estate as you would expect. The selections go through a complicated extraction process to obtain only the best parts of the concentrated juice, which is then distilled twice in small copper pots to achieve greater complexity. Zaya uses native natural artisan "Millenary Waters" that display purity that is beyond compare. Zaya is gently matured for 12 years in the finest oak barriques, imparting deeper, more complex and smoother flavors, before its release. The result is one of the finest rums.

Taster’s Opinion
Roger - This is an extravagantly delightful rum that can and should be enjoyed often. It is one of the smoothest and finest rums I've ever tasted.  It is meant to be enjoyed neat or possibly on the rocks.  I'd not recommend wasting this as a mixer as there are many other rums to demote to that task. I'd keep this rum for yourself as a special treat or for friends who can truly appreciate a really fine rum. It's very reasonably priced for the outstanding quality. I'm surprised that it is only a 12 year old rum as it has smoothness beyond its years.

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

Most recently reviewed by: Roger, January 2007 at RnD's North tasting room, USA

*750ml unless otherwise stated.