The rum world welcomed Zacapa Limitada 2019 just a few weeks ago. Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2019 is the successor of rums produced in the “Limitada” limited editions. This includes Zacapa Limitada 2013, 2014 and 2015 from “House above the Clouds” in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Thanks to slow ageing, the bottle has poetic reference to the traditions and culture of Guatemala.
Zacapa rums
All Zacapa rums are distilled using 12-14 meter-high continuous stills. They are also all produced from 100% virgin sugar-cane honey. Fermented for 5 to 7 days using signature cultivar of pineapple yeast. After the fermentation, it has approx. 5-7 % of alcohol.
Zacapa Master Blender, Lorena Vásquez, has chosen 6 to 24-year-old rums for the final blend, aged in bourbon barrels, charred bourbon barrels, sherry and Pedro Ximénez casks. For the finishing phase, the rum was stored in special casks originally containing Moscato wines. This means 5 types of barrels, like Zacapa Gran Reserva XO. The taste is only influenced by the barrels used. This is also true for the sweetnes, which, even though it may seem unlikely, comes only from the barrels. The rum’s persistence is a proof – the sweetness disappears in a few seconds but with sweetened rums, it lingers. No sugar added, be it molasses, virgin honey or cane juice. Only a tiny amount of caramel is added, in tenths of a percent, to reach steady hue of the rum.
The packaging – the tube and the bottle
The bottle is a typical, nice Zacapa style – as usual with Limitada – yellow-brown notes combined with gold and the typical Zacapa braiding.
The tube seems a bit plain and indistinctive – a grey tube with golden patterns.
The colour
As with most Zacapa bottles, it is magically dark – see images.
Taste and smell
I find the smell very soft, not very sophisticated and, well, Zacapa-like. Slight sweetness and nuts.
Thanks to the finishing in Moscato casks, the rum has subtle floral notes of Moscato wines. Vanilla, coffee, chocolate, almonds and nuts come from the bourbon and charred bourbon barrels. The taste is not very sweet from the start and the nuts are very dominant but after 2 to 3 sips, you taste the sweetness. This is a very good, extremely drinkable rum.
Official sources describe the taste like this:
In the beginning, you find a combination of vanilla, citrus, fruity and floral notes, together with the aroma of nuts and caramelized fruits. The unique woody tones are unmistakable. Followed by woody vanilla, citruses and floral notes. Herbal notes in the background complement the mysterious magical touch.
Rum Depot, Berlín
UPB, the czech distributor, tells us this:
In the beginning, there is a strong taste of vanilla and wood, together with floral and citrus notes. In the background, there are herbs and long, lasting finish.
Warehouse #1, Ultra Premium Brands
The verdict
This is a nice solera rum, appropriate for the price of approx. 85 Euro. The bottle is impressive, I find the tube a bit boring. I would like to thank Jan Albrecht of UPB for significantly expanding my article and correcting some inaccuracies.
