The Ron Zacapa XO is a blend of rums distilled from the sweetest first-crush sugar cane and aged between 6 and 25 years. It is matured using the Solera System – a traditional, dynamic aging process in which rums of different ages are blended, then stored in specially selected barrels to give them each a unique flavor profile. This rum was aged in barrels that previously held bourbon, sherry, Pedro Ximenez wine and Cognac. The resulting spirit is a perfectly balanced combination of sweetness, spice, and fruit. On the nose, Ron Zacapa XO displays rich notes of toasted oak, burnt caramel, roasted nuts, marzipan and orange peel. Smooth and sweet on the palate, flavors of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and baking spice lead to hints of mango and ginger on the lingering finish. This limited-release Zacapa XO Solera Gran Reserva Especial (in a stylish flat decanter) won Gold in the Super-Premium category at the International Rum Festival for several years after its release in 2000, and was given the Platinum award for the Super-Premium category in 2002.