Foursquare Premise

This presents with aromas and flavors reminiscent of Glenfarclas combined with Wild Turkey Master's Keep Reserve. It's notably leathery with significant tannins and a controlled, sweet cherry note. There's also a pleasing, rich chocolate and a caramel that, while slightly too subtle, is still agreeably sweet. This is a highly enjoyable spirit. It possesses a bold, leathery aroma, similar to Joseph Magnus or Wild Turkey Master's Keep Revival, with undertones of smoke and fireworks. Regrettably, these elements blend together, yet the overall impression is one of richness and maturity. A certain waxy quality, akin to Clynelish, is also present in the nose, suggesting great potential. The palate delivers richness, echoing the characteristic flavors of Joseph Magnus and Glenfarclas 25, but with added sweetness from baking spices (notably nutmeg and cinnamon, with some tannic clove). This deviates from my expectations for a rum, but I find it delightful. The finish is long, lingering with cocoa and leather, leaving a creamy texture alongside the tannin that evolves over time. It lasts for ages and is delicious. This is an extraordinary discovery. The equilibrium of sweetness, richness, tannin, and other elements is exceptional for a rum. Especially at 46% ABV, it represents tremendous value! The complexity is outstanding, and it is captivating and rich with flavors that astound me. I'm upgrading my rating from 18 to 22. It might settle to a 20, but it's unlikely to fall below that. Perhaps it will reach 23. The alcohol content is perfectly suited, and the price is unbelievable. There's a hint of tartness, but it's exceptionally well-balanced. Every sip is a pleasure. While it lacks the full fruity intensity and sherry presence of Glenfarclas 21, it closely rivals it in richness and sweetness, with a touch more Joseph Magnus influence, alongside some tropical rum notes and a hint of fireworks. The complexity is undoubtedly greater here, as is the richness. A subtle, slightly unusual orange note appears on the long finish, reminiscent of Cognac. It's difficult to categorize this as anything other than the single best value in spirits, potentially even for cocktails. It doesn't possess the same level of vanilla, tartness, and smoky intensity as Joseph Magnus, which, in my opinion, places it directly between Joseph Magnus and Glenfarclas 25. It even falls between them in terms of ABV (43%).

Doorly’s 12 year was an exceptional rum for my taste, and since it's essentially Foursquare in disguise, I was curious about its more mature sibling. Enter Premise. It costs twice as much but is on the lower end of Foursquare pricing. It's aged 10 years, not 12, in a blend of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. A quick taste of Doorly’s 12 brings back memories of how sweet an unsweetened rum can still be, with plenty of molasses, maple, and oak. This one, however… The nose is rich and sweet, featuring the same maple and molasses, along with dried oak and abundant nutty, rancio notes from the Sherry casks. Initially, the sherry is dominant with a coppery funk, but it softens with some air, allowing balance and a pleasant cola note to emerge. However, a tannic quality remains, reminiscent of Joseph Magnus and Spanish brandy. It's light initially with a multitude of flavors. The rancio takes the lead, but the cola and molasses reappear. Eventually, some bitter walnut, ripe bananas, a touch of sea salt, and oak join in, and for a moment, the sherry influence almost fades. Still, the classic molasses flavor requires some searching but is ultimately present, much like my son hiding under a blanket – I know he's there and am impressed by his stillness, but he pops out with a smile once discovered. So… this is intriguing. The Sherry influence is so strong that I almost wish it were less pronounced. The finish is satisfying if you're willing to sift through the flavors, but it demands some effort. It's a spirit to be savored slowly and contemplated. I'll leave it at that.

Spirit tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, May 9th 2019: Spirit #4 Nose: Sweet, elevated dark fruit notes. Very potent and pervasive. A scent of varnish (more like shellac than nail polish) and some raisins and dates. A dark syrup aroma, with vanilla and banana notes lending it a profile similar to bourbon. Smells of apple cobbler, tobacco, and pencil shavings. Outstanding! Palate: Surprisingly astringent and dry upon entry (the casks are more noticeable than on the nose) with spicy notes (ginger, sweet chili, preserved lemon). The experience continues with the dry theme rather than building sweetness, revealing brown sugar, tropical fruit, grilled bananas, licorice, and some cane juice, with absolutely no indication of added sweeteners. Finish: Medium/long. The cane juice character fades into a vanilla aftertaste. The palate is drier than the nose suggests, but this spirit possesses a very rich and full character. It was unsurprising to learn it was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks for 10 years in an active environment. It has complexity and depth without being cloying or syrupy. A small amount of water brought out more ginger spice and grilled banana in both the aroma and taste. A truly excellent spirit, one of my top choices of the evening, and reasonably priced. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)

The aroma begins with a blend of somewhat spoiled citrus, very ripe banana, fresh sliced cucumbers, sherry, and butterscotch, followed by chocolate-covered dried pineapple. Then come notes of orange marmalade, baked apple filling, and cherries jubilee, transitioning into damp leaves, nutmeg, and polished oak with a moderate alcohol sting. The taste has a medium body starting with a gentle tannic spice that quickly subsides into a mix of slightly sour citrus, banana bread, fresh cut hay, sherry, and butterscotch, then chocolate-covered dried pineapple. This is followed by flavors of orange creamsicle, apple pie, and cherries jubilee, leading into subtle floral hints of honeysuckle, damp leaves, nutmeg, and polished oak with a moderate alcohol sting. The finish is medium in length, featuring dark chocolate-covered pineapple, butterscotch candy, toasted walnuts, cloves, and lightly ashy oak spice. This is a complex, easy-to-drink, and well-composed rum that skillfully merges rum, sherry, and bourbon characteristics. However, it emphasizes those sour fruit notes more than I prefer, along with some ashy oak spice. Compared to a spirit that was entirely aged in ex-bourbon barrels at 62% ABV, this one at 46% ABV seems much lighter and could likely have benefited from a slightly higher alcohol content to deliver richer, bolder flavors. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

Aroma: molasses, honey, overly ripe banana, hay, herbaceous notes, vanilla, toffee, walnut, grape, mint, brown sugar, pineapple skin, chocolate chip cookie, nutmeg, allspice, with a moderate ethanol burn. Palate: molasses, grape, honey, white pepper, brown sugar, vanilla, grass, cherry menthol, clove, allspice, pecan, dark chocolate, pineapple, burnt toast, overripe banana, orange zest, lemon, ginger, with a moderate alcohol presence. The finish is medium length, featuring rich molasses, chocolate, baking spice, and dark fruit flavors. This is the first genuine Foursquare I've recorded, a 10-year expression with both bourbon and sherry finishing. The sherry contributes additional layers of sweet fruitiness and nuttiness. Beyond the typical molasses, baking spice, and banana, there are scents of walnut, chocolate chip cookie, and dried pineapple. The palate follows a similar trajectory. A hint of mentholated cherry appears alongside citrus, more nuts, and even notes of brandied grapes. Overall, this is a fantastic rum, though not my preferred Foursquare profile. It's sweeter and lighter than some others, bordering on sour. Nonetheless, I would gladly enjoy sipping this anytime. A big thank you to the individual who provided the sample!

This is my initial purchase from this well-known rum maker. I believe most people appreciate Foursquare for their absence of added sugar or sweeteners. I can confirm it delivers in that respect. I find it comparable to Balvenie in its overall clean quality and the elegance and purity that most rums lack. The neat nose presents coconut milk, brown sugar, toasted oak, and chamois leather. The sherry casks do impart a slight fruitiness. Papaya and tangerine come to mind. It has a light mouthfeel but good flavors on the palate. More tropical notes emerge with the leather, joined by sweet tobacco leaf, soft caramels, and melted brown sugar. The oak makes its presence known, leading to a finish with non-drying tannins and a mound of sweetness, with fruit and tobacco lingering in the background. There's a mild funk, but it's approachable, so no worries. This is a very good rum, and the pricier, higher-proof options are even better. Ultimately, Foursquare rum is an easy choice for anyone wanting to experience the more refined side of spirits. Premise is likely unavailable to most now, but you can't go wrong with any from the line.........88/100