I’ve sung the praises—to whomever would hear—about one other fantastic rum from Guatemala that’s higher identified than Ron Botran, however apparently they’re doing one thing proper in that nation as this one is great too.
Is Guatemala large enough to assist two rum distilleries? Really no: each this model and Ron Zacapa are a part of the generic-sounding Industrias de Licoreas de Guatemala. They do have separate web sites although. That one will take you to the Zacapa model now, whereas this one goes to Ron Botran.
The Botran household has been making rum since 1939, however I’ve to admit I’d by no means seen this label outdoors of Guatemala till I visited Miami in 2012 and noticed it on a number of billboards and bus cease adverts. Since they had been clearly placing some sources into getting the phrase out within the U.S., I purchased a bottle in a downtown liquor retailer to see if it was price speaking about.
Certainly it’s, so I’ve purchased it many extra instances since.
So what’s the distinction between this model and Ron Zacapa? Nicely evidently the latter has trimmed its choices and the one bottles bearing that title are the Zacapa 23, the Edicion Negra, and Zacapa XO. Every part else has been bottled as a Botran model now as an alternative. The numbers roughly correspond to getting old, however it’s a must to take their phrase for it. The 23 says, “a mix of rums aged 6 to 23 years,” the Negra maxes out at 24, and the XO says, “aged 10 to 25 years.”
I strive to not get hung up on the technicalities although as a result of what’s vital is the style consequence and generally mixing may be higher. One fast technical notice: Botran received a rebrand in 2022, which is once you began to see it extra on the cabinets in its newer and prettier bottles. These bottles are hefty and have some aid lettering within the glass and a (artificial) cork stopper.
Ron Botran Tasting Notes
Located someplace between the liquid caramel of Centenario rum from Costa Rica and the heavy chew of Flor de Cana from Nicaragua, Ron Botran Añejo Reserva gives a pleasant mix of smoothness and complexity that makes it fantastic to drink neat however not overpowering when you use it in a (good) cocktail. It hits all the proper notes you’d count on from a fantastic Central American rum: toasted caramel, vanilla, spice, and a protracted, nice end.
These with a refined palate would possibly style almonds and a few tropical fruit overtones. With a heat copper colour and a medium physique really feel within the mouth, it is a rum you would sip for hours. In the event you purchased this within the ’00s it could have the Zacapa label on it as an alternative and the 12-year model of Botran is principally Zacapa 23 aged half the time. There’s a slight variation in when the sugar cane is harvested for the 2 manufacturers, however it could take knowledgeable reviewer who does this for a residing to inform how a lot distinction that makes I’d think about.
Guatemalan rum is aged within the highlands, not at sea stage like most Caribbean manufacturers, so it may well profit from longer getting old (and never style like a stack of firewood or a pair of shoes). To my style, that makes this distillery the king of all rum makers, one thing borne out typically at spirits contests and buyer scores each.
This can be a complicated rum with a pleasing aroma to begin, a rolling cavalcade of flavors because it strikes throughout the style buds, and a lingering, nice end on the finish. The Zacapa/Botran distillery owns its personal sugar cane fields, which may’t damage by way of high quality, plus they sometimes mix barrels collectively somewhat than separating these into completely different merchandise. From what I can style, it is a good technique. Consider this then because the sister model of Ron Zacapa, with simply fewer years within the barrels. (However not many fewer when you get the 18 model.)
Oddly, you’ll discover this marketed with quite a lot of numbers on the label, from 8 to 12 (what I often see in Mexico) to fifteen to 18 (the best one for this model). You’ll suppose that corresponds to the variety of years it has been aged and also you’d be partly proper. However since this distillery blends a variety of barrels collectively within the solera technique, you actually must take it on religion that the 18 model has extra longer-aged rum in it than the 12 model. Something as much as 15 says it’s aged in barrels “for five to fifteen years” and the upper numbers simply add extra to that vary. In order that quantity is simply the most.
I did have the Botran 15 model years again after I was in Guatemala and I’m guessing I may decide that out over the 12 model I’ve in my home now, however I doubt the distinction could be dramatic. In the event you see completely different variations on the shelf and there’s a large distinction in value, I’m unsure the extra years are definitely worth the premium because it’s a mix. You simply would possibly get a barely nicer bottle. All of them are tasty.
As I’m scripting this within the second half of 2025, Complete Wine has the 15 model listed for beneath $40, the 18 for $42, and the Zacapa 23 for $44, so irrespective of which you decide you’ll be getting an awesome worth.
If you wish to examine each manufacturers and completely different getting old, put aside a while earlier than your flight overseas. That’s so you possibly can go to the rum room on the Guatemala worldwide airport. Comply with that hyperlink to learn all about it.
Shopping for Ron Botran Aged Rum
The value tag for this high quality rum from Guatemala will typically be a contented shock and contemplating that most individuals wouldn’t be capable of inform the distinction on this and the longer-aged Zacapa rum that’s received an 18 on the label, it is a terrific worth.
Ron Botran Añejo Reserva 15 often retails for $30 to $40 within the U.S., making this one of many best bargains you’ll discover within the rum part or your liquor retailer — if they’ve it. (I as soon as discovered a bottle for $19, ought to have purchased a case.) It seems to be dearer than this, plus it definitely tastes dearer than many others on this vary from the Caribbean. In the event you see an 18 model it’d go for $35 or so, however that’s the highest of this model’s vary.
I’m updating this in 2025, after I purchased a bottle of the Botran Ron de Guatemala 8 for beneath $20 on sale. As you possibly can see from my picture although, it didn’t final very lengthy and now I must restock. It goes down straightforward in a cocktail…
Reserva 12 additionally retails for $25 in a Mexican grocery store, priced someplace between the Mexican, Cuban, and Jamaican manufacturers and the higher-priced sister Zacapa or a Flor de Cana of the identical age. So irrespective of the place you’re in North America, Ron Botran Reserva rum is a superb discover.
You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the model right here on their official web site, which factors out that they’re “the world’s first sustainable rum.” Another excuse to achieve for it on the shelf or request it in a fantastic bar.
