Review #723; Rum #168: Foursquare High Ester / Long Fermentation Time

This is a very special rum distilled at the Foursquare distillery in Barbados. This rum is made from 100% Barbados sugarcane and distilled in a double retort pot still. It was fermented from sugar cane molasses and the juice of freshly milled sugarcane. The molasses was fermented by the addition of a single strain of cultured yeast over 72 hours. The fresh cane juice was fermented with natural yeast over a period of several weeks.

ABV: 62%

Nose: Sea Salt, Olive Oil, allspice, cardamom, Over-ripe fruit salad, mango, guava, pineapple bark, cement glue, lime juice

Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Sea Salt, Fruit salad, mango, guava, pineapple bark, cement glue, allspice, black pepper, olive oil, lime juice

Finish: Long length finish, pop of fruit, mango, toasted coconut, cement glue, olive oil, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Allspice, lime juice.

Rating: 9/10

This is my favorite Foursquare I have ever had. The playing of Molasses and Juice here makes for a complex rum that will be a great component for Foursquare to blend with in the future, and one I wish was sold as is to us geeks to drink. Lots of fruits, vegetals, spices, and the hogo glue and over-ripe / fermenting fruits makes for a wonderful and incredible experience. This is also quite the statement to make to those who wish to not have Barbados have a GI. This return to the roots of rum as Richard points out, is all within the proposed GI and shows the large avenue of things that can be done in Barbados. All that being said, this is incredible and I wish I had a full bottle of it on hand.

Small shout out, if you want a great dive on the history of rum and to hear the man himself talk about this rum, pop on the latest Rumcast episode with Richard. (John or Will, I expect a T-shirt out of this)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect