Foursquare 2007

Dense fruited, simple syrup nose. Mouth coating tropical dates and apricots. Good heat. Soft coating of the jowls. Some quality bitterness in the lingering finish.

Rating: 18/23 N: Lighter than I'd expected, but with a bold woodiness underlying it. There are plenty of tart tannins the come with a hint of a savory mustard scent as well. Some light minerality with hints of vanilla, but there really isn't a whole lot going on here. A possible touch of apple This nose isn't bad, but it's pretty boring. This does often happen with high proof drams though, so I'm curious to try the palate. P: Sweet and hot, with some wood in there too. It's like caramel with some grade A maple syrup and some undercooked caramel as well. Notes of fruit (not sure which, but vaguely red and juicy yet restrained) come in at points. There's also a bitterness that makes me think of char and there's a note of savory mustard. Subtle notes of vanilla, but they're on the bitter side. The heat is a bit much here and the flavors are a bit light, unfortunately. F: This is more bitter than I'd expected, but the bitterness melds into wood and then vanilla, so that's nice. Also, some of that savory mustard lingers, though it's on the faint side. - Conclusion - This pales in comparison to Foursquare ECS 2009 (19/23). I like this a lot, but it just isn't as full and it's pretty hot. Foursquare Detente (18/23) is more balanced and less hot than this, with a slightly more elegant profile. This packs a bigger punch, but that seems like just the ABV. Privateer Navy Yard (17/23) is funkier, sweeter, and less hot, with a bit of sweet tobacco and a faint scotchy vibe. I'm considering a 17 or 18 for this and leaning toward a 17. Honestly, I can even imagine a 16. That sweet tobacco scotchy vanilla coming out of the Privateer is just so good. Coming back to this, it's less sweet and funky, but more mature and hot than the Privateer. There are some tropical fruits and polished wood now, with the latter being especially dominant and decadent. There are hints of jalapeño in here as well. Foursquare Détente is more smooth and mellow than this, with less polished wood, but similar woody maturity. I still don't think that this is quite on the level of my bottle of Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23), but it's getting close. I'm thinking that this is an 18. I'm glad I retasted it. I could still see a 17, but I'm thinking it isn't a 16 or 19. Given the heat, I can totally understand a 17, but I'm going with 18. Thank you, @ctbeck11, for sharing this!

Solid rum

Very good rum. Smooth for ABV. Has a nice sweetness to it. Would definitely buy if I see it.

Nose - 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, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - bittersweet molasses, dark chocolate, salted caramel, overripe banana, pineapple, white pepper, brown sugar, cherry, leather, vanilla, orange pith, lemon, grass, clove, allspice, tannic oak, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with molasses, dark chocolate, tropical fruit, and baking spice flavors. Now this is the Foursquare profile I want! Dark and brooding with a natural sweetness and a thick, chewy mouthfeel. The nose is oaky, chocolatey, and darkly fruity with some confectionary effervescence. The palate blasts onto the scene with that strong, bittersweet molasses, deep citrus, and more dark tropical fruits. This is excellent rum, albeit slightly brighter than I’d prefer, even with its 12 Year age statement. The bourbon cask maturation beautifully complements the Foursquare base spirit. While it creeps slightly into sour, youthful territory, this is the style of rum I want to drink when I want to drink rum. I wonder whether a bit more age would make a positive difference? Well we’re going to find out tomorrow.

Thick and viscous with notes of cola, root beer, cherries, toffee, tobacco, coffee, vanilla, pineapple syrup, kiwis, and milk chocolate