Overview
Brand: Foursquare, Private Cask Selection series
Origin: Foursquare, St. Philip, Barbados (picked by Binny's)
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: 12 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 62%
Foursquare's Private Cask Selection returns! We last reviewed one of these bottles when we looked at Dominion Series Edition No. 2, the private Foursquare cask for the Canadian market. This time, we'll be looking at a release a little closer to home.
Binny's, the Chicago-area liquor store chain, selected the cask this go-around. This is a blend of pot and column still molasses-based rum, distilled by Richard Seale at Foursquare in Barbados. It was tropically aged for 12 years in an ex-Bourbon cask, before being selected by Binny's and bottled at 62% ABV.
Appearance
Orange, low viscosity
Nose
Vanilla, salted almonds, butterscotch, permanent marker, hint of bubblegum
Palate
Butterscotch, vanilla, mixed nuts, toffee, coconut water, hint of bubblegum
Finish
Medium-short, nutty, balanced; oak, butterscotch, salted nuts, milk chocolate
Rating: 6/10
Summary
Binny's Private Cask Selection of Foursquare rum is another hit from the renowned distiller, just not one that's too exciting. It's a crowd pleaser and plays the part well, but won't set itself apart from other fine rums from the ECS product line.
This features classic Foursquare notes like butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, and permanent marker. The palate features coconut water and the bubblegum note I've found more in Doorly's rums rather than Foursquare-branded releases. Onto the nutty finish: it's medium-short, balanced, and gently fades out without any off-putting harshness of oak.
This is an enjoyable cask, and I can see why Binny's selected it. Foursquare in general can feel a little "same-y", especially with ex-Bourbon cask rums, which is the case with this rum.