Post #415426 by Kālai Waʻa on Sat, Oct 25, 2008 8:13 PM

Picked up a bottle of the 'new' Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 today at Beltramo's, Menlo Park CA, for $40. (It costs 49 pounds in England, we should consider ourselves lucky.)

The story I got from the buyer at Beltramo's was that Diageo bought the brand, and the "23 year" appelation wasn't to their standard of brand truthfulness. He said also he had met the lady who made the stuff previously.

The new bottle says "System Solera 23" at the bottom, has a narrow straw band, and says Centenario in tiny lettering below the "Ron Zacapa". The description on the back says the contents are between 5 and 23 years old.

So; how does it taste? The stakes are high -- Pele Nani and I had RZ23 on our first date 2.5 years ago and so it has great sentimental value.

Well, it is pretty good. But I am afraid that it is not what I remembered it as. Still sweet, but with a thinner texture? At bit less body, bottom, somewhat less floral? Less rich?

Could it be that after 89 rums on Kill-Devil my taste has evolved? You can't go home again, and you can't put your foot in the same river twice. Does this apply to booze?

What do you all think?

Beltramo's also stocks Barritt's bermuda stone ginger beer for super-authentic Dark and Stormys, but that is a separate matter for another day.

Aloha!