Foursquare Criterion

Can't believe I'm the first to review this truly exceptional rum as it's been out for over a week now.
When poured in a small, narrow tasting glass this rum really stands out and shows it's complexity.
When poured in a tumbler and more air has contact with it, then it's more similar to the 2004 release.
Will need a couple of more sessions with this beauty to detect all the layers.

Some reviews suggested I should be able to detect Crunchie Bars changing into Portuguese Custard Tarts. Initially I assumed my palate needed educating to enjoy this as it was an early purchase in my Rum drinking life. After a month I still dont detect any characteristics that either a Crunchie or Custard Tart would suggest.
Just burning spicyness and little else. I enjoy other cask strength rum and bourbon, and on paper I should like this. So it's just me and Criterion dont get on.

Revisiting my bottle after a few more months and lots more rums and bourbons and - still dont get on.

Foursquare Criterion 10 year old rum. A combination of pot and column still distillation, then matured in ex-bourbon and Madeira casks.
Well actually my understanding is that it spent 3 years in ex-bourbon before being re racked in Madeira casks for the remaining 7 years.
It's bottled at 56%, no added colouring and no chill filtration.
Bottled in April 2017 with only 2000 bottles.
What's not to like...

The nose is a wonderfully rich with notes of cigar leaf, freshly tanned leather, lots of dark stone fruit and sticky toffee pudding.

The palate continues on from the nose with stewed fruits, gently caramelised demerara, red apple skins more cigar leaf, cinnamon, all spice toffee apple and dark chocolate.
The finish is long with everything very slowly simmering on till it eventually fades with nougat, baked banana and apricot..

It's majestically constructed. The balance between casks with the vanillas, spices and tobacco from the ex-bourbon to the bold assertive but never dominating dark fruits of the Madeira casks work so well together that the interplay is seamless.
A real masterpiece, and a coup for TWE to be the sole distributor.

Id give this 92 out of 100

I hope i can buy some bottles more in a few months..

This is a masterpiece.After finishing a nice glass of Empery I decided to pour myself a bit of the Criterion before bed ...... good decision, wow,! Its smooth oaky majestic self just blew me away. Faint flavors of Carmel and smoky chocolate....So damned good! Not sweet but not dry. But, this isn’t Mamas Milk either, 56 % of mouth watering goodness! To bad it’s almost impossible to find, but if you do..... Grab it with two hands, take it home and consider yourself lucky!

If I would have rated this rum when i had it when it first came out, it would be a 10/10. I think though that it was very much ahead of it's time even in the ECS world and doesnt compare well to something like 2007. I would put Criterion just below 2005.

I'm a huge fan of all of Foursquare's rum and this one is my favorite yet. It has an amazing nose with raisin, dried fruit, oak and a hint of the Madeira wink barrels. The first sip goes down remarkably easy even though it's at 56%. You definitely taste the natural sweetness but the more complex flavors soon shine through with spice and oak. I really love this and wish I bought more than one bottle.

Flavorful with notes of chocolate, raisins, berries, spices, and toffee with a long soothing finish. Would love to see how this stacks up against the destino.

So smooth. Subtle notes of vanilla and caramel. No burn at all.

Len nutty sweetness, fruity notes, sweet spices that ends with chokolade in the aftertaste. A fantastic rum

Prima rum die wat weg heeft van de Triptych. Caramel, tropisch fruit, gember, koffie en hout.

Aanrader, maar ja, dat geld eigenlijk voor al het Foursquare spul.

Foursquare keeps on delivering. Interesting rum that grows on you.

Ich finde er ist dem Foursquare Triptych sehr ähnlich. Auf jeden Fall sehr lecker und voll. Ich werde sie beide irgendwann direkt gegeneinander vergleichen, aktuell kann ich vom Triptych aber nur aus der Erinnerung sprechen. Ich habe ihn ein wenig besser in Erinnerung, aber es ist schon etwas her.

Good sweetness and not especially spirits. You feel the percentages.

I think this could be the best offering from Foursquare yet. Not overly sweet, complex nose and complex on the pallet. The finish could be longer but still a great rum.

I really like Foursquare rums, but this one is a bit disappointing to me as it is a bit too dry and has a little too much bourbon aging for my liking.

Smells and tastes of bourbon, oak, molasses, with a hint of madeira. I think the madeira helps it.

If you really like strong bourbon aged rums, I recommend the 2004 Foursquare 11-Year Bourbon Cask Strength rum. It's sweeter and a bit more "rum like" to me :-) .

I tasted this at the San Francisco Rum festival. Since this was tasted very close to the others in its family, I can say it was quite close the the 2004 bottling, but a little smoother and a little deeper.

Well, nothing much to add, except this is my cup of Tea. A plethora of ripe fruit, with just the right amount of natural sweetness. Rich, Deep, Complex and long-lasting

A really nice rum. And in my case one of the best rum I have tasted in this price tag, it could easily have cost twice and I would still consider buying it. It is a sweet rum, but still without sugar, color etc.
So it is pure, as rum always should be.

A blend of ex-bourbon & Madeira casks rums aged 10 years. Bottled at 56%, but it's still smooth, soft, and subtle with a wonderful finish. Beautiful!

Dejlig rom, masser af varme men ikke for meget. God sødme. Kan klart anbefales. Minimum på linie med Triptych.

Foursquare is putting out some quality rum. Criterion is going to be hard to find, the label states only 2000 bottles. The price reflects the rarity too. Your going to pay more for this than the other offerings..$70.00+
Oak lovers shouldn't pass it up and it's worth seeking out.
Exceptionally rich and balanced. Smooth at 56% ABV a little water really brings out the chocolate and toffee! Either water back or straight, its fantastic.
Get it while you can.