Rumfest 2019: Foursquare

On day 2, the organisers and exhibitors are ready for us early birds. Sunday typically sees significantly fewer people, a perfect opportunity to visit the Craft Rum Area. First up, Foursquare.

I sheepishly approach Peter Holland. It’s just gone 11am. “You can’t drink all day if you don’t start early“, he says. I’m in!

 

Foursquare Sagacity 12yo [2019] Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XI 48% tFRP4.5/5

Pronounced with the emphasis on the ‘g’, sagacity refers to having wise or sound judgement. As a rum, Sagacity is a pot & column still single estate blend aged in ex-bourbon followed by a stint in ex-madeira.

• C: Juicy and delicious with fair complexity.

Scores 87 points

 

Foursquare Hereditas 14yo [2019] Ob. TWE Exclusive Private Cask Selection 56% WN tFRP5/5 RD4/5

• N: Strong burned rubber tells us we are in high-strength, high-intensity sherry cask territory.
• T&F: There’s no subtlety about this one.
• C: Too much cask influence for my liking but once again I’m the odd one out. Others rave about it.

Scores 82 points

 

Foursquare 2004/2019 Ob. Patrimonio [6000 bts] 58% tFRP4.5/5

A single blended rum matured in a mix of ex-bourbon & ex-sherry casks.

• N: A complex rich mix of all sorts in every which way direction. Descriptors talk of an array of fruit oils, wood & garage workshops and a grape-y (sherried) fustiness.
• T: Sweet spicy and oaky with a gooey-chewy mouthfeel. The sherry cask influence is firm but not fixed. The result is a simply delicious rum, perhaps better than anything I tried yesterday at LM&V or in Ian Burrell’s masterclass with the exception of that amazing Alfred Lamb’s 1939 vintage stoneware jug [WLP90-92].
• F: Lots of depth here.
• C: Cask-y for sure but wow what a result.

Scores 91 points

 

Foursquare Pliznifotienliario 12yo [2019] Un-Ob. 60%

I’m not 100% sure I’ve spelled this right, but would you check that handwriting. Being all-bourbon maturation, it’s pot-light and column-heavy. At Luca’s request, this is supposedly a ‘one-time’ experiment from Richard Seale to please Luca’s penchant for a heavier more characterful spirit.

• N: This talks of a robust vegetal-freshness.
• T: Vegetal again, we are getting into yeast extract-depths. 
• F: Certainly spicy yet perfectly drinkable neat. In fact, water doesn’t necessarily ease the spiciness. At the death, however, there’s a long sugar cane finish which pushes this one into the top league.
• C: One damn fine experiment.

Scores 90 points

 

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