Foursquare 2007

Score: 18/23 Nose: Not as strong as I anticipated, but with a robust woodiness underneath. Plenty of sharp tannins arrive with a hint of savory mustard scent. Some mild minerality with traces of vanilla, though not much is present. Possibly a slight touch of apple. This aroma isn't bad, but it's quite uninteresting. This often occurs with high proof spirits, so I'm eager to taste it. Palate: Sweet and potent, with some woodiness present. It's akin to caramel with some top-grade maple syrup and slightly undercooked caramel. Notes of fruit (unsure which, but vaguely red and juicy yet subdued) appear at times. There's also a bitterness reminiscent of char and a savory mustard note. Faint vanilla traces, but they lean towards bitter. The intensity is a bit overwhelming here and the flavors are somewhat faint, sadly. Finish: This is more bitter than I expected, but the bitterness blends into wood and then vanilla, which is pleasing. Also, some of that savory mustard remains, though it's quite subtle. - Summary - This doesn't measure up to Foursquare ECS 2009 (19/23). I enjoy this quite a bit, but it just lacks fullness and is quite intense. Foursquare Detente (18/23) is more harmonious and less intense than this, possessing a slightly more refined character. This delivers a stronger impact, but that seems solely due to the alcohol content. Privateer Navy Yard (17/23) is more funky, sweeter, and less intense, with a hint of sweet tobacco and a faint Scotch-like quality. I'm considering a 17 or 18 for this and leaning towards a 17. Honestly, I could even see a 16. That sweet tobacco Scotch-like vanilla emerging from the Privateer is just exceptionally good. Revisiting this, it's less sweet and funky, but more mature and intense than the Privateer. There are some tropical fruits and polished wood now, with the latter being particularly prominent and decadent. There are hints of jalapeño here as well. Foursquare Détente is smoother and mellower than this, with less polished wood, but comparable woody maturity. I still don't believe this quite reaches the level of my bottle of Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23), but it's getting close. I'm thinking this is an 18. I'm pleased I re-evaluated it. I could still see a 17, but I don't think it's a 16 or 19. Considering the intensity, I can completely understand a 17, but I'm settling on 18. Thank you, a friend, for sharing this!

This is not my personal review, but due to its detail, I thought it warranted sharing here: Anonymous, April 22 It's remarkable what this distillery has achieved, from the sherry and bourbon finishes we're seeing, to the unique port and zinfandel casks they've surprised us with previously – their innovation is commendable. I honestly wasn't expecting much from this. Upon the initial nosing, it had a somewhat peculiar, solvent-like, gluey quality that I dislike, reminding me of cheap spirits... however, what lies beneath is simply unreal. Nose before dilution: A strong solvent hit (which I suspect comes from the bourbon cask), dark chocolate, hay, barrel char, intensely woody-oak (it genuinely smells like my face is inside a cask – incredible), toasted vanilla, campfire smoke, spice, the sweet influence of its associated cask, naturally sweet (surprisingly so), light fruitiness, with dark fruits in the undertones, stone fruit, and not the typical heavy molasses note usually associated with molasses-style rum. It also has notes of white wine, pepper, corn, cotton candy, a thick layer of sweetness, toffee, honey, heather, and burger sauce (!? possibly part of the solventy scent), and a musty character. With dilution: It opens up and becomes incredibly lifted, revealing banana, heavy caramel, toffee, massive natural vanilla, a huge body, tropical fruits, spices like ginger, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, with a thick and full texture. Taste without dilution: A huge punch of spices, peppery, toasted oakiness (but not bitter tannins), bourbon sweetness, immense vanilla, smoke, fruity, a woody impact, you can really taste the barrels, molasses (but not the dark, heavy kind we expect), spicy, complex, almond, nutty, with orange zest on the finish. With dilution: It's BIG! It opens up, becoming sweet, spicy, with black pepper, sweet wood/oakiness – wow, smoky (like a campfire), corn, tobacco, bourbon, pine, resins, and tannins, apricot, honey, heather, punchy, dark fruits, grapes, lingering, raisin, damsons, it has substance, you can really get the orange on the back end/back of the palate, banana, nuts, hazelnut and almond, and it just continues.

Nose features bittersweet molasses, cocoa, toffee, baked apple, vanilla, orange zest, caramelized banana, marshmallow, tobacco, cherry, dense oak, lemon, powdered sugar, grass, mint, allspice, clove, pineapple rind, and a moderate ethanol burn. Taste presents bittersweet molasses, dark chocolate, salted caramel, overripe banana, pineapple, white pepper, brown sugar, cherry, leather, vanilla, orange pith, lemon, grass, clove, allspice, tannic oak, and a moderate to high alcohol bite. The finish is medium length with molasses, dark chocolate, tropical fruit, and baking spice flavors. This is the Foursquare profile I've been hoping for! Dark and intense, with a natural sweetness and a thick, chewy texture. The aroma is oaky, chocolatey, and darkly fruity with a touch of confectionary brightness. The palate arrives with strong, bittersweet molasses, deep citrus, and more dark tropical fruits. This is an excellent rum, though slightly brighter than I prefer, even with its 12 Year age statement. The bourbon cask aging beautifully complements the Foursquare base spirit. While it verges on sour and youthful, this is the style of rum I desire. I wonder if a bit more age would enhance it? We shall discover tomorrow.

Initially, I was hesitant about the aroma, which initially smelled like fresh paint, but gradually revealed ginger, nuts, and brown sugar. The high proof was clearly indicated by the nose-tingling burn. However, the taste was truly astonishing. This is the most impressive rum I've experienced so far. Its cask strength, while certainly present, wasn't the overwhelming inferno I anticipated. Instead, the warmth was controlled, contributing to a delightfully balanced blend of sweet butterscotch, rich fruits, toasted nuts, and smoky wood. Based on my limited experience, this resembles a skillful combination of the lighter, sweeter Plantation XO (tropical fruit: banana, mango, coconut) and the darker, richer El Dorado 15 (caramelized nuts, coffee, and charred oak). Nevertheless, let me be clear – this surpasses them in quality, sophistication, and complexity. It's a rum to be savored slowly. Completely deserving of all the accolades, and a must-try for developing palates seeking to move beyond popular sweetened rums. An absolute pleasure to sip and enjoy. I'll be disappointed when it's finished. [10/10]

I will contrast the 2007 and 2008 expressions, which I believe some will find helpful. To be clear, both are excellent, and you can't go wrong with either. The 2007 offers a deeper, darker flavor profile with a more charred character. It has a pleasant bitterness, much like good coffee is bitter yet smooth. I detect notes of burnt toffee alongside hints of dark cocoa and coffee, with a medicinal quality throughout. On the back end, there's a highly caramelized sweetness reminiscent of nearly blackened sugar. In comparison, the 2008 is brighter and fruitier. It presents as dessert, like berry compote served over medium-toasted creme brulee. A sense of sweetness is present throughout, but it doesn't hit as intensely as the 2007. As I revisit it, I notice hints of licorice, candied orange, cardamom, and cognac. If I weren't aware it was aged solely in ex-bourbon casks, I would suspect some kind of brandy influence. Neither is superior to the other. Each contributes something distinct. Simultaneously, their shared heritage of quality is undeniable.

Tonight marks a special occasion with gin, whisky, and rum all being sampled. This is another final bottle that I brought in, just as a significant portion of my collection was departing. Foursquare is often called the Pappy Van Winkle of the rum realm. They dedicate themselves to producing exceptional, traditional rum without any additives or shortcuts. Their releases are highly sought after by rum connoisseurs, and after tasting a craft whisky and now this, I understand the appeal. After adding a generous amount of water to bring it below an estimated 50% ABV, delightful notes of toasted, caramelized coconut wood emerge. For whisky enthusiasts who aren't keen on overly sweet rums, I recommend exploring this distillery. A good starting point would be the fantastic R. L. Seale's 10 Year Old rum, as they offer three brands: R. L. Seale's, Doorley's, and Foursquare. The R. L. Seale's 10 Year Old is a superb and reasonably priced rum. It's rich and sweet, but in a balanced way.