Pre-Order – Released November 11th.
The harmony between liquid and cask is what makes for truly great aged spirits, be it whiskey, anejo tequila or, in this case, rum. Guatemalan rum producers Ron Zacapa celebrate this connection with the third release in their Heavenly cask collection, Zacapa 23 La Armonia – The Harmony Cask. The new expression is the penultimate release in the range.
Each release in the Heavenly Cask collection celebrates one of the four casks used during the Zacapa Sistema Solera aging process. It follows the release of the first limited edition, Zacapa 23 La Doma – The Taming Cask and the second, El Alma – The Soul Cask.
The limited edition collection is made in Zacapa’s aging facility in Guatemala, the ‘House Above the Clouds’, which is situated in a series of mountain peaks and active volcanoes – 2,300m above sea level.
“We are deeply proud of the uniqueness and complexity that Zacapa 23 offers, and The Heavenly Collection allows us to further emphasize this by further aging the liquid and pushing the boundaries with fascinating flavor combinations,” Lorena Vásquez, Master Blender for Zacapa. “La Armonia is a wonderful expression; the effortless rhythm, flavors and aromas are perfectly balanced and beautiful; with hints of red berries, pecans and everything reminiscent of crops that grow abundantly in the Guatemalan countryside. The silky, smooth, nutty and caramelized berry sensation is a sophisticated expression of our landscape’s bounty: rich, sweet and delicious.”
Ana Mohzo, Global Senior Brand Manager for Diageo comments: “La Armonia is the third of four very special limited-edition bottles from Ron Zacapa; and we are thrilled to present the latest expression of our Guatemalan roots. Each bottling has truly encapsulated the essence of the magical place where Zacapa is made; and we are very proud that La Armonia is part of the collection. We hope aficionados and collectors of ultra-premium rum enjoy La Armonia as much as we did creating it.”
On the nose, the rum offers notes of Oloroso Sherry, caramelized berries, pecan pie and hazelnuts. The palate finds more of the same, and the brand recommends combining with a grilled tenderloin with a sherry sauce and grated coconut. As for enjoying the rum, they suggest it neat or over a large cube.
Bottled at 40% ABV
About Ron Zacapa
Unlike many other producers who use molasses, Zacapa uses the juice from the first pressing of sugar cane. This makes the rum more round and soft and helps ensure Zacapa’s characteristic taste profile. However, you can also thank the area in southern Guatemala itself for that. The fertile soil is rich in volcanic minerals and rivers that nourish all life. Both parts help to ensure the rum’s depth and aroma. After distillation, the rum is sent on a bit of a journey from the lowlands to the “House above the clouds” at an altitude of 2300 meters, where the cooler temperatures and high humidity benefit the rum. The fresh mountain air matures the rum and contributes to its deep aroma, its fullness and complex flavor notes.
This is also where it ages in oak barrels and goes through the solera process. What is solera? Actually a blend, so the finished rum includes rum from several cask types and styles – carefully selected by Master Blender Lorena Vásquez. Some casks are made of white, American oak and have contained American whiskey, while others are made of European oak, which previously contained cognac, sherry or wines at Pedro Ximenez. All casks are roasted to varying degrees – something that greatly affects the finished rum. All this allows Lorena Vásquez to put together high-quality rums with great complexity.
Even more room
You can hardly have too much rum. Take a look at the large selection of rums from around the world. You will find rum in all price levels and for every taste.
