Is it just me

[saltgrassbear]

Or does the newer Ron Zacapa 23 solera seem to be a little less sweet, with a slightly different finnish.

SGB

[curoswiss]

I know I find the 15yr less sweet. But the 23 is the same to me.

[LaQuesta]

I just tried the solera blend this week and have to say that I'm glad I stockpiled the old stuff. While I did not bench test the two directly together, I did compare it to the old Zaya (also glad I stockpiled that) and concluded that the solera blend of Zacapa was not quite as smooth in the finish nor did I detect what I previously found to be a signature oak finish complexity with the old Zacapa that set it apart from other Guatemala rum.

I can't say that I found it substantially less sweet than the old blend but I don't think I would have any trouble rating the old Zaya ahead of the solera blended Zacapa. This was not the case with the old Zacapa.

Still good but seems to be suffering the affects of greater production and less aging on the oak. I predict this rum will become less popular over time and I do not intend to stockpile the solera blend even though I expect further deterioration of quality over time. If I'm still alive when I run out of the old stuff, I'll drink rum from Venezuela.

[newdayrising]

I don't know what the "old" Zacapa tasted like, but the bottle I have appears too sweet and has almost lost its rum taste. While it is enjoyable, I like a hard, straightforward rum that doesn't try to mask that it is a rum.

But if it really is less sweet than it used to be, then I'm glad I have not tried to old Ron Zacapa.

[sailor22]

I think the newer 23 is less complex and I find it sweeter.
I prefer the 23 anjos to the 23 solara. I have stockpiled some of the anjos and don't think I'll bother buying any more of the solara after I finish the bottle I have.