Overview
Brand: Foursquare, Exceptional Cask Selection series
Origin: Foursquare, St. Philip, Barbados
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: 12 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 60%
With Foursquare 2008, we reach the final (as of publication) Foursquare vintage release that I own. While some feel that the yearly ex-Bourbon matured rums are too similar, I've enjoyed picking apart the differences that are present between each installment.
This release is composed of a pre-cask blend of pot and column still distillate that was ditilled in 2008 and aged for 12 years in a combination of first, second, and third-fill ex-Bourbon casks in St. Philip; it was bottled at a respectable 60% ABV.
It's quite unfortunate– and perhaps darkly humorous– that this rum was distilled during the same year a global recession kicked off, and was released during the year a pandemic ravaged humanity. Despite these potentially inauspicious circumstances, Foursquare 2008 is a preferred vintage for many fans of the distillery.
Let's crack it open and give it a taste!
Appearance
Dark orange, medium clarity, low viscosity
Nose
Raw pastry dough, vanilla, permanent marker, roasted almonds, fruit leather, oak
Palate
Almonds, black cherries, dates, raisins, pasty dough, vanilla, oranges, caramel, dark chocolate
Finish
Medium-long, fruity, well-balanced; oak, vanilla, orange zest, cherry, dark chocolate, bitter almonds
Rating: 7/10
Summary
2008 is another great entry in the Exceptional Cask Series' array of vintages. It's got a big fruit constituency in its profile, while also a heap of savory notes like pastry dough and dark chocolate.
The fruit is a bit more pronounced in 2008 than other ex-Bourbon ECS releases, and adds some appreciated complexity to the typical Foursquare notes. Ultimately, this hits all the highlights, but doesn't quite set itself apart. It's a delicious rum you can't go wrong with, but I wouldn't worry if you got into the rum game too late to snag a bottle of this.