Ron Zacapa XO 70cl

Chocolatey, fruity, and unapologetically bold, this rum is built for slow sips and big “wait, what is that?” moments. It’s the kind of bottle that makes your home bar feel instantly more serious, without turning you into a rum scholar.

What makes it special is the way it layers flavour. It’s made in Guatemala’s highlands, where cooler temperatures help the ageing take its time, and it’s matured using a solera system (think: blending older and younger rums so every pour has depth, not just one-note sweetness).

XO also means you’re getting extra richness from time in different casks. The result leans into dark, dessert-like notes, but keeps enough oak and spice to stay grown-up. If you like your spirits with complexity, this one keeps unfolding as you sip.

• Nose: Raisins, cacao, vanilla, toasted oak, and a hint of orange peel
• Taste: Dark chocolate, dried figs, caramelized nuts, warm baking spice, and a touch of coffee
• Finish: Long and lingering, with oak spice, cocoa, and a gentle citrus lift

It’s also a killer pick when you want rum that holds its own in a stirred cocktail. Think Rum Old Fashioned or a rum Manhattan-style riff, where those chocolate and spice notes don’t get lost behind sugar or juice.

If you’re used to lighter, tropical-leaning rums, this is a fun left turn. It’s darker, deeper, and more about dried fruit, oak, and cacao than pineapple and coconut.

Fun Fact: Zacapa is aged high in the mountains at a “House Above the Clouds,” around 2,300 metres up, which helps the rum mature more slowly and build those layered flavours.