Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2015

Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2015 comes from Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala and is built, like the rest of the range, on the solera system, a fractional blend in which older and younger spirit marry over time. Zacapa is the cane honey exception in the Spanish style, made from miel de cana rather than molasses and aged at altitude, and this limited release pushes the strength up to 45%.

The blend carries caramel, toffee, vanilla and light fruit, with a mild palate and a finish that turns to coffee and dark chocolate with a touch of welcome bitterness. As with all Zacapa, sweetness is part of the signature and is handled here as positioning rather than a flaw, present but not cloying. The extra strength gives it a little more grip than the standard bottlings while keeping the smooth, rounded house character, making it a comfortable cigar companion and an easy after dinner pour rather than a demanding one.