Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera
Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera is a luxury Guatemalan rum crafted from virgin sugarcane honey and aged up to 23 years in a Solera system of ex-bourbon, sherry and Pedro Ximénez casks. Bottled at 40% ABV, it delivers rich layers of caramel, chocolate, dried fruit, vanilla and sweet oak with exceptional smoothness and depth.
Aged high in the Guatemalan mountains for slow, refined maturation and finished under the expertise of Master Blender Lorena Vásquez, Zacapa 23 is a benchmark for premium rum worldwide. Perfect neat, on ice or in elevated cocktails, it offers dessert-like luxury in every sip - elegant, silky, and unmistakably Zacapa.
Guatemala
23 Years
700ml
40% ABV
NVRon Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera is one of the world’s most celebrated ultra-premium rums — smooth, rich, and dessert-like with exceptional depth. Crafted in Guatemala from virgin sugarcane honey, it undergoes slow tropical ageing in the cool air of the Guatemalan highlands at over 2,300 metres above sea level, where long, gentle maturation enhances sweetness and silkiness.
The signature Solera system blends rums aged between 6–23 years in a succession of oak casks that once held bourbon, sherry, and sweet Pedro Ximénez wine. The result is a luxurious spirit full of caramel, chocolate, raisins, vanilla and warm spice — velvety on the palate and refined enough for sipping neat.
Loved by whisky and cognac drinkers, Zacapa 23 has become a modern icon in premium rum, celebrated for its complexity, elegance, and unmistakable smoothness.
Ron Zacapa was founded in 1976 in the town of Zacapa, eastern Guatemala. The rum is distilled from first-press sugarcane honey rather than molasses, giving a naturally sweet, clean base spirit. Ageing takes place far from Guatemala’s tropical coastline — instead, barrels rest in the cool mountain climate of Quetzaltenango, dramatically slowing evaporation and allowing deeper wood interaction.
The famous petate hand-woven palm band around every bottle is made by Guatemalan artisans, symbolising Mayan culture and craftsmanship. Zacapa’s Master Blender, Lorena Vásquez, is one of the most respected figures in rum, responsible for shaping its signature dessert-rich style.
Style: Premium Aged Dark Rum (Guatemalan)
Region: Guatemala (Aged in the mountains of Quetzaltenango)
Producer: Licorera Zacapaneca / Diageo
Distillation / Production: Distilled from virgin sugarcane honey (not molasses) in column stills for purity and silkiness, then matured using the Sistema Solera fractional ageing method
Base Material: Virgin sugarcane honey
Maturation: Multi-stage ageing up to 23 years in a Solera system using ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and Pedro Ximénez casks
Cask Influence: Bourbon adds vanilla and caramel; sherry and PX casks provide dried fruit, chocolate, nuts and sweetness
Filtration / Proofing: Light filtration; bottled at premium sipping strength
Appearance: Deep mahogany and amber with ruby highlights
ABV: 40 %
Nose:
Caramel, vanilla, toffee, raisin, cocoa, orange peel, honey and gentle wood spice.
Palate:
Silky and decadent — chocolate, dried fruit, toffee, sweet spice, roasted nuts, molasses and dark sugar. Rounded, smooth body with elegant sweetness and oak warmth.
Finish:
Long, warming and luxurious — raisins, vanilla, cocoa and soft sherry sweetness.
Overall Character:
Velvety, rich and dessert-like — one of the smoothest premium aged rums in the world.
Neat / On Ice:
Best sipped neat or over a large ice sphere to open chocolate and raisin notes.
Premium Cocktails:
Rum Old Fashioned
Chocolate Old Fashioned
Espresso Martini (rum style)
Rum Manhattan
Zacapa Old Cuban
Dessert Pairings:
Dark chocolate
Sticky toffee pudding
Tiramisu
Caramel or date desserts
Cigars
Occasions:
After-dinner sipping
Luxury gifting
Celebrations & tasting flights
