Zapatera Reserva Single Barrell 1996

Zapatera Reserva Single Barrel 1996 is a single cask Nicaraguan from the 1996 vintage, a vintage dated bottling that offers a more individual take on the country's rum. Drawn from a single barrel, it carries the classic, slightly drier character Nicaragua is known for among the Spanish styles.

Distilled on column stills from molasses, it shows dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla and a burnt edge on the nose, then a dry palate of coffee, dark chocolate and vanilla, finishing on dark chocolate, barrel, a faint saltiness and mocha. It reads as a classic, dry leaning vintage sipper, though some find a noticeable sweetness underneath that recalls a rum soaked baba. Its sugar status is undisclosed, so a degree of sweetness may sit beneath the roast. A nice, characterful single barrel for those drawn to older, coffee and chocolate driven Nicaraguan rum.