Went by Hi Time Wines today and grabbed a bottle of Zaya (Trinidad) and Zacapa 23. My first of either of these. Had the Zaya tonight with a Monte Edmundo. Boy, the Zaya is a vanilla-fest. It had a tag on it saying "The world's best sipping rum." Maybe so, but the truth is that to me the vanilla overpowered everything else. It reminded me of a vanilla rum my uncle used to drink in his rum and Coke. I will probably not have Zaya while smoking. It probably is a great sipping rum, just not with cigars, at least for me. Of course if you like vanilla then the Zaya would be right up your alley.
I did try the Zacapa 23 afterwards. Now that is more like it. So smooth and much more to my tastes. I am definitely no rum expert, but it was no contest. Zacapa 23 by a mile.
