Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2015

Ron Zacapa’s Reserva Limitada is their famous blend of Rums aged from 6 to 24 years in paradise.

Ron Zacapa is named after the town in eastern Guatemala. Their sugar cane plantation is located higher on the volcanic plains of Retalhuleu, 1148ft (350m) above sea level. Most Rums use molasses as their base, Zacapa, however, to impart a sweeter and smoother flavour, uses only the concentrated first press of sugar cane, known as virgin sugar cane honey.

When it’s time to start the fermentation, a strain of yeast extracted from pineapples is used, which produces unique ‘Zacapa’ aromatic compounds. The Rum is then distilled at sea level in continuous column stills and moved higher into the mountains where the maturation takes place.

In the highlands of Quetzaltenango, 7544ft (2.300m) above sea level, lies The House Above the Clouds. This stunning location – one of the highest ageing facilities in the World – is where Zacapa slowly develops its complex flavour and character over time.

Ron Zacapa issues a special limited release of Reserva Limitada once each year. It’s always something special with an interesting twist, and this year’s no exception. Master blender Lorena Vazquez has hand picked a selection of casked Rum aged between 6 and 24 years in both Spanish Sherry and American white oak casks. Now comes the twist …

Three years ago they moved those casks into an herb garden to age surrounded by fresh tarragon, fennel, anise, and coriander—more than 20 herbs in all were in that garden. Have you EVER heard of such a thing? Crazy, right? Well, often what starts as crazy becomes innovation. Some of that “herbal-ness” got into the wood, and what gets into the wood gets into the spirit. If you are a Rum drinker—or you know one—this is a twist from a master worth trying.