Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2014

Ron Zacapa Reserva Limitada 2014 is a Guatemalan ron from Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, the house behind the famous Zacapa name. Like the rest of the range it is the cane honey exception to the molasses rule, made from fresh cane juice miel de cana and aged at high altitude using the solera method, so the label points to a blend of components rather than a single age.

The Zacapa style is all about smoothness and sweetness, and this bottling delivers it: toffee, vanilla, chocolate and caramel on the nose, then a mild, sweet, roasted palate led by toffee, closing on coffee, dark chocolate and a touch of welcome bitterness. The sweetness is generous and part of the design rather than a flaw, the high altitude solera ageing giving butterscotch, dried mango and gentle oak. At 45% it is a harmonious, rounded after dinner rum for anyone who likes the dessert end of the Spanish style, with a little more grip than the standard expression.