Foursquare 2010

The aroma features brown sugar, oak, vanilla, coconut, banana, pineapple, and baking spices. The palate echoes these notes, adding a distinct tobacco flavor leading into the finish. If you're familiar with Foursquare, there are no major surprises, just a rich, indulgent, refined rum. It drinks lighter than its stated proof. An impressive accomplishment, and I suspect it might be superior to the 2009. Foursquare's ex-bourbon aged ECS continue to excel. I will concede it doesn't reach the depth and complexity of the 17 year Isonomy, which might be the finest bottle I currently own, regardless of spirit category. Truly the Pappy of rum.

Aroma: Robust, woody. Caramel and molasses with stewed fruits. Toasted oak. Taste: Rich with some sweetness. Dates, maple syrup, a hint of butterscotch. Woody spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cacao nibs. Aftertaste: Oak spices and fruits. This rum is delicious. It possesses depth, richness, and fruitiness without being excessively sweet. 8.5/10

120 proof. Aged 12 years in former bourbon casks. Notes of pineapple, coconut, banana, vanilla, grapefruit, smoked sugarcane, sweet corn, toasted oak, a nice blend, brown sugar, apples, pears, creamy, mango, strawberry, burnt molasses, tart grapes, orange, additional oak, and chocolate.

Rum that appeals to bourbon drinkers. It's all about the barrel with notes of burned sugar and fudge. It's sweet but not overly so, and has some heat that mellows with water. Compared to some Cuban rums, they are more interesting.

As a bourbon enthusiast exploring rums, this is the best I've encountered. I'd even say it rivals my favorite bourbons. It's less sweet than some rums and packed with flavor. It has a nice finish and drinks smoother than its stated proof.

Sweet, semisweet flavors abound with notes of sugared apples, vanilla, caramel, baking spices, leather, tobacco, dried fruits, and oak. It is well-balanced and smooth. The finish has a noticeable heat, yet it echoes the aromas and taste.