Ron Zacapa

Ron Zacapa was created in Guatemala and is built around a distinctive aging method inspired by the old Spanish solera system, where younger and older rums are blended through a staged cask process to build complexity over time. 

The distillery uses a concentrated sugar cane juice often called virgin sugar cane honey rather than molasses, and it ages stock at high altitude to slow maturation and preserve delicate notes. The house blends rums that have spent time in different casks, including former whiskey, sherry, and Pedro Ximénez wine barrels, to add layers of flavor and texture. 

The result is a brand with history that reflects a deep respect for tradition combined with a dedication to creating world-class spirits.

Notable Bottles From Ron Zacapa

Ron Zacapa 23 Year Rum 

Zacapa 23 is the brand’s best-known bottle and a natural first buy for someone curious about premium rum. It is created by blending rums aged between roughly six and twenty‑three years using the solera method, which gives a rounded profile of honeyed sugar cane, dried fruit, and butterscotch with a smooth finish. For many people, Zacapa 23 is the clear introduction to how age and cask variety shape modern premium rum.

Ron Zacapa Negra Rum 

This expression is made to be a bit darker and more intense than the core range. It highlights toasted and smoky notes from heavier char and a focus on richer cask influence, so it stands up well in stirred cocktails or with a splash of cola. Negra is a good pick when you want a rum with presence that still keeps the house balance. It shows how finishing and cask choice can push a rum toward deeper, more robust flavor without losing the solera backbone.

Ron Zacapa XO Rum

XO is the more mature, cognac‑finished expression aimed at slow sipping. It spends extra time in casks that once held fine wines and cognac, which brings darker fruit, chocolate, and toasted oak notes to the fore. The texture is richer and the finish longer, so it rewards a quiet moment and a tulip glass. If you enjoy spirits that evolve in the glass and pair well with dark chocolate or a cigar, XO is the step up to consider.

Awards and Recognition

Did you know that this is the first-ever rum to be included in the International Rum Festival's Hall of Fame? Ron Zacapa has also gotten first place in the premium rums category at the International Rum Festival 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 - for 4 years in a row!

Who Ron Zacapa is For

Gift buyers, collectors, or slow sippers will find great use with Ron Zacapa. Best enjoyed neat, it’s a simple pour with loads of depth and age.