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View Full Version : Tasting: Vizcaya VSOP / Flor De Cana 21/ Zecapa 23


SarasotaRum
06-13-2008, 12:46 PM
Amateur Tasting:

I had the opportunity to taste these rums during a visit to Sarasota, Florida's first true Rum Bar Restaurant: Big Sugar / Excellent atmosphere, service, food, and rum.
The Rum List is still in its early stages offering 13 different types. Probably 4 are considered ultra-premium with a noticable gap in the 7-12 year range.

http://www.bigsugarrestaurant.com


Vizcaya VSOP Cask #21 - This was suggested by our Rum steward, Warren, served in a short tumbler, with coffee beans in sniffer on the side. This was the big winner with all three tasters present.

Nice Aroma, smooth and pleasing taste filling the mouth, long finish,
flavor was full and expanding, nice blend of sweetness and spicy heat

Flor De Cana 21 - I was delighted to see this on the menu as I had read posts of people ordering and loving this offering from Nicargua. Unfortunately, I did not experience anything that would cause me to prefer it over a good taste from a decent $30 offering. This tasting may have been overshadowed by the Vizcaya but this is how it went. Sorry guys...

Aroma very limited, flavors were much less perceivable that the previous offering, a kind of bland caramel, medium finish following by a sensation of staleness at the roof of the mouth.

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 yr - My friend Jon selected the Zacapa. Warren said you could pour it on top of your Ice Cream and he was right. Different, tasty, and good. Too sweet for me, but the ladies loved it.

You can smell the Rum a foot from your nose, flavor is of butterscotch silky smooth and sweet, the finish is curously nice and grows on you. Your initial reaction is to demand more heat to counter the sweetness but there were others at the table who found it enchanting. Bravo

Please keep in mind that I have not had the benefit of any training in tasting of spirits, so if I had given one of your favorites the short end of the stick you have my sincere apologies. In the meantime, if you have the chance to try the Vizcaya, by all means, avail yourself of that opportunity...

Sincerely,

Stan Ross
Sarasota, Florida
SarasotaRum

frenchrumlover
06-13-2008, 01:36 PM
flor de cana 21 mean 21 centuries but it s only 15 years old and not 21

Michael
06-13-2008, 03:32 PM
We had a very different take when we tasted Vizcaya against other Dominican rums on hand, Barcelo Imperial, Cubaney 12 and Matusalem Gran Reserva, which were all well-liked and ranked in that order. Of the four, the Vizcaya was the least-admired and the only one we wouldn't buy again. The palate seemed to favor holiday spices and had less interest and complexity than the other three.

If Zacapa 23 seems sweet, by all means avoid Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, with a sweetness which is truly liqueur-like, but still delicious.

RobertBurr
06-13-2008, 03:52 PM
Sarasota, Florida's first true Rum Bar Restaurant: Big Sugar http://www.bigsugarrestaurant.com

Stan, Thanks for the info on Big Sugar. I'll check in next time I'm in the neighborhood and I'll drop off some of my Gifted Rums Guides there.

You're on your way to a wonderful adventure discovering all the great rums of the world.

Edward Hamilton
06-14-2008, 12:37 AM
I spent many days and nights sailing Sarasota Bay, I'm glad good rum is finally making its way to one of the nicest places on the west coast.