Foursquare 2007

Deep amber color. Nose is rich with buttery caramel, burnt sage, allspice, vanilla bean, pipe tobacco and powdered sugar. Heavy, velvety mouthfeel. The palate is a balance of sweet and spice with notes of bubbling caramel, charred cinnamon stick, allspice, nutmeg, sage, buttery toffee, with a faint hint of anise and a touch of oak. Finish is medium-long, dry and warming, with more oak and baking spices. I wish the finish was a little longer, but otherwise superb.

First rum I have liked in a while but wish it had more caramel and less spice. Lots of woody spice on the front followed by a light toasted turbinado. Not bad but a little hot for me

I started out a bit hesitant with the nose—fresh paint dominated my first whiff, slowly unveiling ginger, nuts, and brown sugar with time. The high proof was clearly evident by the nose-tingling burn. But the taste, quite frankly, blew me away. This is the most impressive rum I’ve enjoyed to date. Its cask strength, while definitely noticeable, was not the burning beast I expected. Instead, the burn was controlled, providing warmth and development to a delightfully balanced composition of sweet butterscotch, rich fruits, toasted nuts, and smoky wood. Given my limited experience, this tastes like a deft combination of the lighter and sweeter Plantation XO (tropical fruit: banana, mango, coconut) with the darker and denser El Dorado 15 (caramelized nuts, coffee, and charred oak). Still, let me be clear—this is on another level in terms of quality, sophistication, and complexity. This is a rum you take your time appreciating. Absolutely deserving of all the praise, and a must-try for evolving palettes eager to progress beyond the popular sweetened rums out there. An utter joy to sip and savor. I’ll be sad when this is gone. [10/10]

Excelent rum. Won't lie not easy to drink at that high level of alcohol, but diluting with a bit of water and might be the best rum I have ever tried

Gin, whisky and now rum... the trifecta all happening tonight. Another last bottle I allowed in the door as a chunk of my collection was heading out the other way. Foursquare is known as the Pappy of the rum world. They are lazer focused on excellent traditional quality rum, no adulterents or short cuts. Their bottlings are sort after by rum purists and having tried a boutique whiskey offering and now this I can see why. Once a liberal helping of water is added to bring it down under the 50% abv mark (I'm guessing) lovely toasted caramelized coconut wood flavours burst forward. If you are a whiskey drinker not interested in sweet rums I'd seek these guys out. I'd start with the excellent R. L. Seale's 10 year rum (they have 3 brands: R. L. Seale's, Doorley's and Foursquare). The R. L. Seale's 10 year rum is a great drop and quite cheap. Richer and sweeter but not over the top.

Wow. From the start it's wonderful with a beautiful rosey color. Nose is sweet vanilla and oak. Little bread like. A sweet cake. Taste is immersive, with tobacco and leather up front, sweet caramel to mellow it out, spicy hot sensations. Long, bitter, spicy, hot linger. At 59%?! Incredible. This is definitely a bourbon drinkers rum. This is a win.

I'll do this review as a comparison between 2007 and 2008, which I think some people will appreciate. To be clear, both are excellent, and you can't go wrong with either. 2007 is a deeper, darker tasting, more charred drinking experience. There is a good kind of bitterness to this, in the same way that good coffee is bitter but smooth. I get burnt toffee notes with hints of dark cocoa and coffee, and a a medicinal quality throughout. Finally, I get highly caramelized sweetness on the back end that reminds me of burnt (practically blackened) sugar. By comparison, 2008 is brighter and fruitier. It is dessert in the form of berry compote over medium toasted creme brulee. A perception of sweetness exists throughout, but it never strikes a bass note in the same way as the 2007. As I return to it, I find hints of licorice, candied orange, cardamom, and cognac. If I did not know that this was only aged in ex bourbon casks, I would swear to a brandy influence of some type. Neither is better than the other. Each brings something unique to the table. At the same time, the shared pedigree of excellence is undeniable.

Medicinal taste; harsh flavor;