Aroma visualization from community tastings
Ron Zacapa Royal
Caramel, vanilla and dried fruit lead here, backed by chocolate, toasted oak and a soft, syrupy sweetness typical of Zacapa. One taster found "sweet spices and toasted oak" with cherry pit and prune on air. Most call it a smooth, easy sipper; several note the nose stays quiet and the sweetness sits high. A few rate it above the XO, others prefer the cheaper 23.
The community says- Balanced spice and sweetness
- Chocolate and caramel
- But: Added sugar
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The look inside the bottle
How does Ron Zacapa Royal taste?
Aggregated from 74 community reviews.
Smooth, sweet chocolate-caramel Zacapa sipper A smooth, sweet, chocolate-and-caramel sipper most enjoy, though several feel the extra age adds little and the sweetness leans heavy. Some rank it the best Zacapa; others stick with the XO.
Fans of sweet, soft, dessert-leaning sippers
Anyone avoiding sugar or wanting bold, dry rum
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
19 of 74 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Ron Zacapa Royal rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.4 sits in the “Very good” band. 94% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
70% rate it 8 or higher. 17 selected write-ups from 74 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Portman
I was first afraid the Royal might be heavily sweetened as is typical of zacapa, but the sweetness blends in perfectly and supports flavors of vanilla, raisins, prune, apricot, some oak and very subtle allspice.
Review by BTHHo 🥃
Most helpful positive review
Like all Zacapa products, it is more on the sweet side, but if that is what you are looking for, it is worth having, even at this price. In my opinion, Royal is a better tasting experience than XO 👍🏻
Review by Stefan Persson
Most helpful mixed review
This is definitely overpriced in my opinion. If I want a Zacapa I will always choose the XO.
Review by LukaŽiga
8,4:On the nose it is very sweet with toasted, very toasted, roasted cask. The nuts have been flame-blackened.They deliver us notes of sweet spices and toasted oak. With an aeration, the very dark profile of this rum takes on the nuances of aged schnapps, with notes of cherry pit, prune and very candied vegetal notes.Finally, the oak opens with its typical vanilla and sweet caramel notes. 8,2:On the palate, the attack is very smooth and syrupy with caramel that covers the palate, as the wood is charred. The toasted, roasted notes then take hold of our tasting buds all around, as the alcohol integration is great. We could notice dried fruits, chocolate, roasted nuts, toffee, some leather. 8,2:The finish is long, dry with licorice molasses and roasted wood, with nuts and cognac... Edit:2.6.25, an expensive sipper, but good one
Review by Maxence
Well, that hurts but this not bad at all 😂 I would suggest this one to beginners.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Retasting this one changed the score, how the palate changes over time 😊 This is probably the best rum in the Zacapa range. Maybe a bit too expensive for a rum that isn't a limited version.
Review by Timo Groeger
Last one, and a rally good one. Nice chocolate, caramel and vanilla taste and smell on the palate and nose. Here you can see what makes a good rum, it doesn't have many percentages, but it is very old. Delicious.
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
Das erste mal den Ron Zacapa Royal verkostet. Die Flasche macht schon ordentlich was her. Leider ist das auch das beste an dem Rum. Der Inhalt ist ein wenig unspektakulär. Etwas Vanille, bisschen Eiche. Ein entspannter Sipper der aber nicht wirklich in Erinnerung bleibt.
Review by Émile Shevek
Solera di tendenza dal sapore delicato e rotondo, interessanti le note dolci e leggermente speziate, ma il finale è molto corto e senza profondità
Review by Steffmaus🇩🇰
A tasting from more than a year ago (picture from a closed bottle), from a shop that had a wide variety of open bottles. I found some sweetness in the nose, and notes of dried fruits, chocolate, and a subtle sweetness, that doesn't overpower it
Review by HenryL
In the nose a little stronger than the Zacapa 23, but is probably due to the 5% more. Otherwise a little woodier, otherwise hardly a noticeable difference. In the taste directly a big load of sherry. In addition, some honey sweetness, a spicy note and a pleasant mouthfeel, probably because of the sugar, which does not really bother me here. There is a clear difference in the taste, unlike the nose. It's a great rum, but not worth the 250€. I would rather compare it with products around the 100€.
Review by F.L.O.
Das ist wohl der erste Zacapa der nicht richtig durch schmeckt. Natürlich recht süß, aber die Balance zwischen Würze und Süße ist super gelungen. Der Preis ist natürlich absurd aber rein geschmacklich ein toller Vertreter der süßen Fraktion
Review by Stefan L
This used to be one of my best rums back in the day, but despite the maturity and the at the time “high” 45% it is today way to weak and sweet for me.
Review by Daniel
Fazit gleich vorweg: ich bin enttäuscht! Preis und Leistung stehen für mich nicht im Verhältnis. Die bis zu 5 Jahre mehr Lagerzeit machen sich geschmacklich leider mit Nichten positiv bemerkbar. Vor allem an der Nase zurückhaltend. Wenigstens im Geschmack ein schönes Wechselspiel aus kräftigem und würzigen Auftritt, hin zu Frucht, Kaffee und Honig.
Review by Dirk E.
Netter Rum der Anfangs sehr stark rüber kommt.
Review by Richard Krupa
Visne v cokolade
Review by Johnny O
First tried in Guatemala and just loved the subtly aged balance that is perfectly executed. Perfect to share with friends who are not used the high proof Foursquare type rums.
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Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 174 € – 234 €
from 2 sales, latest 02/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 254 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Ron Zacapa Royal
A Column Still Rum from Guatemala, distilled by Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, at 45%.
Community purchases
169 bottles logged by 149 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
18% opened, 9 emptied and repurchased.
What does Ron Zacapa Royal cost?
Community paid 172–270 €.
Current best price: 248.14 € – within the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
169 purchased · 83 tasted · 112 wishlist · as of
About the Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala distillery
The Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala distillery is located in Guatemala. Rums from Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala have been reviewed 4,293 times with an average of 7.4/10.
To Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala →Read on in the RumX Guide
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