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Foursquare 2008 12-Year rum

Foursquare 2008 12-Year

RA
had this rum recently

Barbados | Aged | 60% ABV | Pot and Column Still Distilled

9.0/10
84 ratings
Truly a fantastic choice
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84 Foursquare 2008 12-Year Ratings

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Jimmy Cliff (PREMIUM) 🇺🇸 | 495 ratings
Posted over 3 years ago

This is really good and really strong. I’m doing re-tasting my ratings with last four Foursquare’s. 2008 smooth really packs you early with its strength, and wow does it linger. Bourbon lovers should like this, I’m keeping it at a 9.5 so 10.

I think the last few offerings of Foursquare are as good as it gets. Rich full bodied complex similar to other full bourbon cask releases but very smooth little afterburn like Nobiliary. If you can find it buy it.

TDR1964 (PREMIUM) 🇺🇸 | 30 ratings
Posted almost 2 years ago

such a great supper from this house. True to Foursquare, an excellent rum. A must have.

Mujuru 🇺🇸 | 152 ratings
Posted 2 years ago

I am a huge fan of Foursquare 2007 I had heard the appreciation of this rum for quite a while, so last year I decided to go a grab a bottle before stock ran out. I had still not opened my bottle when a fellow rum aficionado so graciously sent me a sample of it.

All of that said, Foursquare is actually not an automatic “yes” for me. I have had mixed experiences with rums from Foursquare. Foursquare ECS 2007 and Foursquare Redoubtable rank very high on my list and for a long time ECS 2007 was my single favorite rum of all. I also absolutely adore Doorly’s 12 Year and regard it the best value for rum on the market in the US. However, on the flip side I am not a huge fan of Foursquare Detente (I have gone back to it numerous times and am still left unimpressed) and I don’t particularly like R.L. Seale’s 10 Year at all.

This rum is a pot and column still blend of molasses based rums rums distilled and tropically aged 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels in Barbados. This distillery is known for its extremely strict rules about no additives whatsoever, so this obviously contains no additives of any sort. It is a classic Bajan Foursquare Exceptional Cask Series Selection.

So I came into this sample cautiously optimistic. On the positive side I have mainly seen rave reviews of it. However, most such rave reviews highlight its extremely bourbon profile…and I am not especially a fan of most bourbons, so that isn’t necessarily a positive in my book. But enough blather, how does this particular bottling hold up?

On the nose, taking a whiff I get intense deep rich chocolate and mandarin orange. These two notes are so deep it permeates your olfactory senses. In fact they are so rich all I can think of is Christmas Chocolate Oranges. I recall a very similar experience with Foursquare ECS 2007; indeed it is what I love about that rum. I also detect rich caramel and just a faint hint of pineapple.

The palate mirrors the nose closely and taking a sip I am engulfed, and almost drowning in the rich chocolate and mandarin orange notes. Two extremely prominent notes but very lovely. The palate also comes with a heavy dose of rich caramel and undertones of fine bourbon, pineapple, and that classic “rum” note but on a fairly intense level.

The finish is fairly long and continues to evolve as you sip. First, of course, come the deep rich chocolate and mandarin orange notes that permeate the entire experience. After sipping on it a while I get more oak, a faint cough syrup note and fine bourbon lingers in the throat.

This is a lovely rum to just sip and savor. It does indeed have some serious bourbon influence, but in the best possible way. Obviously what stands out the most are the deep, rich chocolate and orange notes similar to those found on the ECS 2007. Indeed in many respects this rum is very similar to Foursquare 2007. Though it also has more bourbon influence and less “rum” influence on the palate and on the finish. I think I still probably prefer the 2007, but I could definitely see how bourbon aficionados would prefer this bottling to that. Like the 2007, the notes here are deep, rich, and deeply comforting. And it has a few notes that the 2007 doesn’t have - namely the pineapple and faint cough syrup notes.

All in all this is definitely a very enjoyable sip that will join ECS 2007, Redoutable, and Doorly’s on the positive side of the ledger. Indeed I rank it up near, maybe just short of, Redoubtable. This is overall outright excellent. When Foursquare hits, they really hit…and this one slaps.

Short Description: Think Orange flavored Lindor Chocolate Truffles with fine aged bourbon in the middle.

Nose: Deep Rich Chocolate, Mandarin Oranges, Caramel, faint Pineapple

Palate: Deep Rich Chocolate, Mandarin Orange, Caramel, Oak, Pineapple, Rum, Fine Bourbon

Finish: long, Mandarin Oranges, Chocolate, Oak, faint cough syrup, fine bourbon

ABV: 60%

Country of Origin: Barbados

Distillery: Foursquare

Mr. Rumantic 🇩🇪 | 296 ratings
Posted 2 years ago

The Foursquare ECS 2008 is a rum from Barbados, which was made in 2008 from pot and column style and then allowed to store for 12 years in Ex Bourbon barrels. The Single Cask Rum was then bottled in cask strength of 60% alcohol without dyes, sugar or filtration.

I compare the 2008 directly with the 2007. In the nose, the 2008 has beautiful caramel and wood notes. In addition roasted vanilla, some coconut and fruit. Compared to the 2007, the nose has stronger caramel notes. The 2007 looks more balanced. But overall very similar. On the palate, the rum first shows a pleasant caramel sweetness with vanilla and light roasted aromas. The alcohol is present and should be taken seriously. It quickly adds more spice, wood and pepper. The finish becomes woodier with more barrel influence. But also lighter notes are added. Some fruit and fine spice. The finish is medium-long and miminal alcoholic. In comparison, the 2007 has more balance, more wood and no pepper. The finish is more coherent.

I think the Foursquare ECS 2008 is very successful and the nose is really fun. On the palate, the rum is intense with heavy notes. It is sweeter and more bourbon comes through than in 2007. I like the 2007 a little better, because in my opinion it is more balanced and rounder. However, the taste profile is quite similar. Both are very good rums, but the 2007 is the winner for me.

Der Foursquare ECS 2008 ist ein Rum aus Barbados, welcher 2008 aus Pot und Column Stil hergestellt wurde und anschließend 12 Jahre in Ex Bourbon Fässern lagern durfte. Der Single Cask Rum wurde anschließend in Fassstärke von 60% Alkohol ohne Farbstoffe, Zucker oder Filtration abgefüllt.

Ich vergleiche den 2008 direkt mit dem 2007. In der Nase hat der 2008er schöne Karamel und Holz Noten. Dazu geröstete Vanille, etwas Kokosnuss und Frucht. Im Vergleich zum 2007er hat die Nase kräftigere Karamel Noten. Der 2007er wirkt ausgewogener. Aber insgesamt sehr ähnlich. Am Gaumen zeigt der Rum erstmal eine angenehme Karamel Süße mit Vanille und leichten Röstaromen. Der Alkohol ist präsent und sollte ernst genommen werden. Es kommt schnell mehr Würze, Holz und Pfeffer dazu. Der Abgang wird holziger mit mehr Fasseinfluss. Aber auch leichtere Noten komme dazu. Etwas Frucht und feine Würze. Der Abgang ist mittellang und miminal alkoholisch. Im Vergleich hat der 2007er auch hier mehr Balance, mehr Holz und dafür keinen Pfeffer. Der Abgang ist stimmiger.

Ich finde den Foursquare ECS 2008 sehr gelungen und die Nase macht richtig Spaß. Am Gaumen ist der Rum intensiv mit schweren Noten. Er ist süßer und gleichzeitig kommt mehr Bourbon durch als beim 2007. Mir gefällt der 2007 etwas besser, da er meiner Meinung nach ausgeglichener und runder ist. Das Geschmacksprofil ist aber durchaus ähnlich. Beide sind sehr gute Rums, 2007 aber für mich der Gewinner.

Stefan Persson (PREMIUM) 🇸🇪 | 507 ratings
Posted over 2 years ago

Got this 2*3cl samples through a fellow member in a Swedish rum group.
It’s a blend of pot and column distilled rum aged for 12 years in ex-Bourbon barrels.
The aroma is very complex and with an intensity that hits me. I initially recognize butterscotch and hints of vanilla, oak and paint stripper. After a while in the glass I also recognize fruits and tobacco.
In mouth, palate it’s still complex and intense. I recognize fruits, raisin and spices.
During the rather long finish it’s spicy and I recognize pepper and ginger.
Overall it’s a really great and very well balanced rum that’s dry and sweet at the same time.
Picture: My emptied samples poured in a glass.

jwevenson (PREMIUM) 🇺🇸 | 7 ratings
Posted over 2 years ago

Flawless and my favorite taste among the six Foursquare I've tried. Worth the money!

PbRx 🇺🇸 | 2 ratings
Posted over 2 years ago

My favorite of the Foursquare I tried. Complex, no flaws

Tomduck 🇬🇧 | 7 ratings
Posted over 2 years ago

I was lucky enough to grab 5 bottles of this release but have only got one left which will now stay unopen for some time to come. It is so drinkable, and belies it’s 60% ABV, just a stunning rum, perhaps only beaten yet by the 2006 Velier release, which was and is much more expensive. Richard Seale is a legend

Cultov 🇨🇿 | 49 ratings
Posted almost 3 years ago

The power/strength of this rum is excellent. Beautiful long finnish.

vomi1011 🇩🇪 | 403 ratings
Posted almost 3 years ago

A 12y Foursquare with 60%

Smell: Very aromatic scent escapes the glass, it stings in the nose. Deep caramel sweetness with dried fruits (raisins) and flowery aromas. Some wood is noticeable, sweet vanilla (vanilla biscuits), some orange. Slightly earthy aromas deeper in the glass and hazelnut, but not dominant.

Taste: It starts sweet with caramel, orange zest, dried fruits (raisins). As the spiciness increases, the sweetness and dry fruits intensify again, turns more into barrel wood and becomes even darker with bitter tannins and orange zest. The mouth gets dry, I have plenty of barrel aromas on the palete. Then the sharpness increases towards the finish again, light bourbon wood and vanilla emerge.
The finish is sharp, with wood, orange zest, vanilla, dried fruits.

Aftertaste: orange zest, orange, floral, wood, vanilla, hazelnut

Conclusion: A wonderful Foursquare, quite sharp, but also beautifully intense. The complexity is there, I especially like this sweet representative from Foursquare. Of course it is not 14 years old and would be even better after two more years.
I'm not sure if it's my mood, but I like it particularly well and accordingly I would give 90 points.
Beginners have to be careful because of the sharpness.

Overall rating: 90 points

Sweetness: 3/5
Fruit: 3.5/5
Sharpness: 4/5
Complexity: 3.5/5
PL 75 €: 4/5

XeniePie 🇧🇪 | 10 ratings
Posted almost 3 years ago

Goes down very smooth despite the high ABV, definitely worth the money.




Brand Details

Name: 2008 12-Year
Years Aged: 12
Yr Distilled: 2008
ABV: 60%
Type: Foursquare
Raw Material: Unknown
Process: Unknown
Distillation: Pot and Column Still
Women Led Rum: No

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