Zafra Master Reserve 21

Due to the many reviews comparing this one to a bourbon, I was very hesitant to try it. Also, ever since finding out that Don Pancho was not the Master Distiller and that his name was only used to promote it, I was really turned off. His name is not even on my bottle, so that is very much telling.

I had planned on driving 40 miles to a well stocked rum bar to try it because I truly did not think that I would like it. However, between the dreaded thought of driving to the outskirts of a bad neighborhood and knowing that one just cannot judge a rum from one ounce at a bar, I picked up my own bottle this morning. Now if that first sip at a bar is terrible, then there is very little chance that the rest of the bottle will taste better.

This is a very dark rum that happens to be semi-dry with 15 gpl of added sugar (thanks to another reviewer for this info). The aroma is almost nothing. My first taste really impressed me, but later sips not so much, hence my rating of 7. I can't pinpoint the taste, but it is definitely not bourbon. If you want a rum that tastes a lot like bourbon, look no further than Porteno Solera 8 from Columbia. This Zafra is not even that close to a bourbon. All I can say is that this Zafra has a rich taste and after taste that is quite complex. I am glad that I bought this bottle, but at $49, my decision to buy another one will have to wait until this one finally gets finished off. It is good to know that it will last for more than 4 months due to it having less than 20 gpl of added sugar.

For those of you who like very strong and complex flavors to sip a few drops at a time neat, this one is for you. As for me, I have to enjoy it on the rocks to mellow things out. Mixing a rum that costs this much would be unthinkable.

My first rum ever. Sure to please. Smooth with a great aroma and not too sweet.

Just one of the best rums I have had. Sweet, but not too sweet.
Very smooth. Wish I could afford to always drink this

Cocoa and wood, a sign of good barrel maturation. Not harsh at all.

Caramel and coffee on the nose. A full mouth feel with a lot of flavor, coffee, oak, caramel, and just a bit of sweetness and a medium finish. Pairs well with a cigar or a good steak.

This is a great rum. Since it's not as expensive as some of the premium rums, it is a great bargain. It has a subtle sweetness but is very oaky - perhaps the closest match I can think of is Santa Teresa, but this is oakier.

Very smooth sipping rum, rivals most bourbons. A bit pricey but worth the investment for a quality Panama rum.

This has become my go to rum drink of choice. It is extremely smooth and flavorful. It makes me wonder what the 30 year on my shelf would taste like.

Overall this rum has a lot going for it. It is smooth and has good flavor. Not overly powerful up front, has very little lingering taste, and not very sweet. Good clean sipping rum and a good example of what an aged rum should be. it does however lack just a little depth and character to bring it to the next level. The bottle is too tall to fit in my liquor cabinet but I won't hold that against it. :)

Got in to Rum because of a Keto diet, and it's been a pain finding well-reviewed rum with LOW ADDED SUGAR! Most of the junk out there has tons of added sugar, so it's closer to drinking syrup than spirits.

This isn't. It's great. There's likely a hint of added sugar for flavor.. but each sip you get that age, the bourbon barrel. Excellent. Favorite rum yet.