Here is a Panama rum directly imagined and invented by the people at Dana Imports, already at the origin of 2 other -successful- rums also bearing the letter "Z": the famous Zacapa which we no longer present, and the Zaya rum, less known in our country but which would probably have its little effect on fans of the genre. A war machine in short, with a refined design and a bottle as heavy as it is imposing.

Price  : you can find this rum in some cellars for 70/80€. The bottle is 70cl and displays a classic 40°.

Age  : aged for an indeterminate number of years (but far from 21 years) in 210-liter oak barrels used in the production of Bourbon.

Once again, don't trust the number on the label, it's a long way from a 21 year old, just look at the selling price of the beverage across the Atlantic: barely €30 per bottle... very interesting but let's be serious, unimaginable for an old rum... And like any rum of this style, a tasting will set the tone and will speak much more than commercial blah blah and a bunch of advertising, despite what some people may say.

This Zafra Master Reserve rum has a beautiful amber color, quite deep, with golden highlights . The work of the rum reveals large tears, a classic for a rum that wants to be aged. However, we can be surprised not to see the greenish disk on the surface, which is found precisely on old rums. Once again, I prefer not to imagine what could have been added to give such an appearance to the liquid…

The smell that emerges is warm and pleasant, recalling at first the notes of a bourbon. The spices hold a large place , dominated especially by cinnamon and to a lesser extent ginger, melted in a woody that becomes smoky and recalls notes of leather. Lighter veils of vanilla appear here and there, and black fruits (cherry, prune, grape), orange marmalade. A rich and quite complete nose that has its little effect.

On the palate,   the attack is smooth, it is light and very smooth; we easily recognize the cinnamon and orange marmalade . The spices and leather make a nice breakthrough in the middle of the palate, making the mouth peppery and bringing a rather interesting full-bodied side. Definitely a rum with character and always quite rich.

The finish is woody and spicy, always on warm tones , easily (and without appeal) eclipsing the fruits. It is persistent and dry, with a note sometimes peppery sometimes mentholated. The rum leaves a dry and sweet taste that dries the palate.

Here is an interesting rum because it is rich and complex. A nose full of promise, a mouth enhanced by spices and a lingering finish, even if the woody taste takes over considerably at the end, and a sweet taste dries out the palate a little. The exit is therefore a little spoiled but the whole remains more than correct, and more interesting in my opinion than the Zacapa rum (in its '23' version). The Zaya, on the other hand, has its supporters, it is less woody and softer and sweeter and would be closer to the spirit of the Zacapa rum, even softer and smoother with a profusion of vanilla. As you will have understood, there is something for everyone in the Z family! Rating: 75

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

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