Overview
Brand: Foursquare, Exceptional Cask Selection series
Origin: Foursquare, St. Philip, Barbados
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: 12 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 60%
Today we hit a milestone– review #200! It has been quite a journey getting to this point, and I've greatly enjoyed trying rums from around the world and sharing my thoughts with you, the reader.
This particular day also has significance to our review subject: November 17 is regarded as World Foursquare Day, given that the distillery was officially opened on this day in 1996, with today marking their 28th anniversary. Richard and Gayle Seale have long been champions of the Bajan and global rum communities, so raise a glass and celebrate them today.
In my glass is Foursquare 2011, the latest vintage release in the Exceptional Cask Selection series. Like all of the past vintages, 2011 is a blend of pot & column still rum that was completely aged in ex-Bourbon casks for 12 years at the distillery in St. Philip, Barbados. This edition was bottled at 60% ABV.
One item to note is that according to social media posts from those that attended UK Rum Fest earlier this year, 2011 will be the last vintage release in the ECS series. There has not been any further confirmation of this from other sources, so please take that with a grain of salt.
Appearance
Amber, low viscosity
Nose
Vanilla, butterscotch, permanent marker, fresh pastry dough, black cherries, powdered sugar
Palate
Black cherries, graham cracker, butterscotch, toasted pecans, black cherries, cinnamon
Finish
Long, tannic, warm; oak, black cherry pits, bitter dark chocolate, molasses
Rating: 7/10
Summary
Foursquare 2011 is another enjoyable entry into the ECS lineup. This release provides a highly drinkable "snapshot" of the distillery's output of the production year– exactly what I feel the vintage releases do best.
Common Foursquare notes yield vanilla, butterscotch, permanent marker, and pastry dough throughout, while black cherries and their pits pop through at various points. The nose finishes with a sweet powdered sugar, while toasted pecans and graham cracker are supplemented by cinnamon on the palate. The finish is warm, tannic, and a tad bitter to me.
If the rumors are to be believed, this is a fine last release in the vintage series. All good things eventually come to an end, but we can look back on the vintages fondly, and look forward to the next exciting development that Richard Seale has to offer.