Zacapa

Zacapa is a premium Guatemalan rum, produced by Rum Creation and Products, a subsidiary of Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala. It is named after Zacapa, a town in eastern Guatemala.

The rum is notable for its unique aging process, often referred to as the "Sistema Solera" method. This involves blending rums of different ages and characteristics in a series of barrels, typically ex-bourbon, sherry, and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The barrels are stacked in a pyramid, with the oldest rum at the bottom. Small amounts of rum are drawn from the bottom barrels and bottled, while the void is filled with rum from the barrels above, and so on.

Zacapa rums are typically made from sugarcane juice, as opposed to molasses, which is more common in rum production. They are aged at high altitude in the "House Above the Clouds," located in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, at 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level. The cooler temperatures and lower oxygen levels at this altitude are said to contribute to a slower and more nuanced aging process.

The Zacapa brand is widely recognized and has received numerous awards and accolades for its quality and taste. Its expressions typically include Zacapa 23 (formerly Zacapa Centenario 23), Zacapa XO, and Zacapa Edición Negra. The numbers often refer to an average age or blend complexity, rather than a minimum age statement.