Zacapa XO Centenario Neue GP 2026

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Finishing in former Cognac casks made from French oak completes the maturation of Zacapa XO. Before this, the selected reserve rums pass through the Sistema Solera: older and younger rums are blended during maturation and move through a sequence of casks previously used for American whiskey, sherry and Pedro Ximénez wine.

Maturation takes place at the House Above the Clouds, 2,300 metres above sea level, in a cool, humid mountain climate. The raw material is sugar cane honey from the first pressing rather than molasses.

With warm colours, organic lines and a pronounced surface texture, the gift packaging evokes Guatemala's landscape. The redesigned presentation does not change the rum. The bottle contains 0.7 litres at 40% alcohol.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, toasted oak and burnt caramel combine with dry-roasted nuts, marzipan and orange peel. A subtle fruit note emerges at the end.
• Palate: The rum is soft and sweet on the palate, with a sustained interplay of fruit, spice and alcohol. Dark cherries, chocolate, dates and prunes meet sweet oak spice with cloves, vanilla and cinnamon.
• Finish: The finish reveals lighter notes of dried mango, raspberry and ginger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Zacapa was created in 1976 to mark the centenary of the Guatemalan city of the same name. Production connects several locations across the country: the sugar cane comes from the south, while bottling takes place in Mixco. For fermentation, Zacapa uses a yeast strain originally derived from pineapple.

Master Blender Lorena Vásquez is responsible for Zacapa's flavour style. For XO, her work includes selecting the reserve rums and blending them within the Sistema Solera. The composition of the blend and the different previous uses of the casks are therefore central to this bottling.

Facts: