Foursquare 2008

I'll compare the 2007 and 2008 vintages, which I think some people will find helpful. To be clear, both are excellent, and you can't go wrong with either. The 2007 tastes deeper, darker, and has a more charred profile. It has a pleasant bitterness, similar to how good coffee is bitter yet smooth. I detect notes of burnt toffee with hints of dark cocoa and coffee, and a medicinal quality throughout. Finally, I get intensely caramelized sweetness at the end, reminiscent of burnt (almost black) sugar. In contrast, the 2008 is brighter and fruitier. It's like dessert in the form of berry compote over medium-toasted crème brûlée. It has a perceived sweetness throughout, but it never reaches the same depth as the 2007. As I taste it again, I find hints of licorice, candied orange, cardamom, and cognac. If I didn't know it was only aged in ex-bourbon casks, I would swear there was some kind of brandy influence. Neither is superior. Each offers something distinct. At the same time, their shared excellence is undeniable.

It pours like a thick Scotch but has a deep dark amber color that makes you think of rich mahogany and leather-bound books. The aroma drifts from the glass as you begin to bring your nose closer. Sticky pineapple upside-down cake, clove, cinnamon, vanilla frosting, and leather all stimulate your senses and warm your soul. The richness and depth of the aroma make you hesitant to sip, as you just want to swirl and admire it a bit longer. The taste is full, rich, and affects the entire palate. It doesn't dance; it settles like a warm blanket of molasses, cocoa, coconut, and rich vanilla bean. As you savor it, the savory notes emerge with the leather aroma, along with tobacco and dark chocolate. The final part doesn't disappoint, as the finish lingers like a dense cloud from a fancy pipe. That pineapple note comes through the savory notes mentioned earlier, reminding you this is rum and surprisingly not a top-shelf Scotch. Bravo. If you see Foursquare Rum, grab it.

The 2007 Foursquare is among the most outstanding rums I've encountered. I've heard the 2008 is superior, but I dislike hype, so let's see how it measures up. The aroma isn't particularly appealing. It's heavily influenced by alcohol, as one might expect at 60%. Perhaps a trace of sweetness at the edges, but difficult to get past the vapors. Hopefully, it goes down more smoothly. The initial taste is considerably better than the aroma. There's a great deal happening here. It has an almost peanut brittle sweetness at the start as the sugar washes over your tongue and the 120 proof heat arrives. The finish involves a rather significant burn. Overall, this isn't quite as remarkable as the 2007. That particular dram convinced me of Foursquare's quality, but this 2008 edition might have pushed the intensity too far. It remains a very fine rum that stands well apart from most options on the local store shelves. It just doesn't quite live up to the anticipation in my opinion.

This rum is strong, blended, and aged in bourbon barrels by Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. It consists of rum from both an artisanal pot still and a traditional twin column Coffey still. All were aged for 12 years in used Ex-Bourbon barrels. It matured in open warehouses in Barbados, experiencing the full effect of the tropical climate; bottled at 60% ABV. It has an aromatic start with hints of vanilla, oak spice, marzipan, and tobacco leaves; while a bold and spicy profile adds notes of rich wood, leather, tobacco, papaya, apricot, banana, and a hint of chocolate; leading to a long and warming finish with hints of pepper and toasted oak. September / October 2020

The nose is divine. Molasses, bourbon, caramelized pineapple and banana, smoky charred oak, vanilla pudding – all relentlessly present. Considering the proof, this isn't surprising, but what is a bit shocking is the minimal ethanol vapor on the nose. Beautiful spirit. This is unmistakably a rum for bourbon enthusiasts. I can rarely say that a nose as wonderful as this translates so smoothly to the palate, but this one does. All the exquisite, potent aromas from the nose carry through to the palate exceptionally well. It's warm, viscous, and coats the mouth, with just enough burn at the end to balance the sweetness. The finish is actually quite dry with oak and abundant brown sugar and spicy cinnamon. Wow. Spectacular in every regard.

I usually drink whiskey 99% of the time. I poured a sample of the 2008 Foursquare last night and I'm glad I did!! Foursquare is the ideal transition from whiskey to rum, which any fan of barrel-aged spirits will enjoy. This rum has all the qualities a whiskey drinker seeks, even though the distillate is different from Bourbon (which is at least 51% corn, plus other grains). Rum is made from molasses and aging it in Ex Bourbon barrels results in a phenomenal, well-rounded spirit from smell to taste to finish = Truly enjoyable and directly comparable to Bourbon. Cheers