🥃 Ron Zacapa XO
The Zacapa XO line of Guatemalan rum, 40% ABV; solera system with final ageing in French oak.
Ron Zacapa XO is a line of Guatemalan rum from the Ron Zacapa brand, bottled at 40% ABV. There is no age statement on the label. Sources describe the age of the blend differently: Difford's Guide gives roughly 6 to 23 years, while the producer's page gives 10 to 25 years. So rely on the label of the specific bottle.
Production. The rum goes through the solera system, in which older and younger distillates are mixed during ageing. The casks previously held American whiskey, sherry and Pedro Ximénez. According to the producer, the final stage is in French oak casks that previously held cognac; Difford's Guide also mentions French oak for the final blending. According to Difford's Guide, ageing takes place at about 2,300 m above sea level.
Why this matters for you. Compare XO with the Zacapa 23 line: the strength is the same, 40% ABV, while the difference lies in the older blend and the French oak. Tasters describe coffee, chocolate and spice. WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | rum |
|---|---|
| Raw material | sugarcane juice (as described for the Ron Zacapa brand) |
| Cask type | casks ex-American whiskey, sherry and Pedro Ximénez; final ageing in French oak (ex-cognac according to the producer) |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; blend of 6–23 years (Difford's Guide) or 10–25 years (producer) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ron Zacapa XO → kind of → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🏷️ Solera, 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Pedro Ximénez Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Ron Zacapa, 🥃 Rum, 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Ron Zacapa 23, 🥃 Ron Zacapa 23, 🥃 Ron Zacapa Edición Negra, 🥃 Ron Zacapa Edición Negra
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that XO means a rum aged 25 years?
No. There is no age on the label, and the sources give a blend range: 6–23 years (Difford's Guide) or 10–25 years (producer).
How does XO differ from Zacapa 23?
According to the producer, the blend is older and has a final ageing in French oak that held cognac; the strength is the same.
What is its strength?
40% ABV according to the producer and Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🍷 Pedro Ximénez Sherry — Very sweet sherry from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, a naturally sweet wine; at least 212 g/l of sugar, 15–22 % vol.
- 🥃 Ron Zacapa 23 — The core line of Guatemalan Zacapa rum, 40% ABV; a blend of rums aged 6 to 23 years in the solera system.
Similar
🥃 Ron Zacapa 23 · 🥃 Ron Zacapa Edición Negra · 🥃 Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva · 🥃 Diplomático Mantuano · 🥃 Diplomático Planas · 🥃 Old Monk Gold Reserve
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Ron Zacapa XO Solera Grand Special Reserve (40 %, no age statement, c. 6–23 years, French oak marrying)
- Zacapa (brand site): Zacapa XO (40 %, rums 10–25 years, American whiskey, sherry, Pedro Ximénez, French oak ex-cognac)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)