Foursquare 2010 Detente 10-Year

Nose: Port Wine, Nutmeg, Walnuts, Oranges, Dark Grapes, Banana, Acetone, Allspice, Caramel
Palate: Bourbon, Port Wine, Oak, Macadamia Nuts, Vanilla, Honey, Sour Cherry
Aftertaste: Oak, Nutmeg, Allspice, Port Wine

This is a very solid offering from Foursquare. Very bourbon, Port, and Nut profile heavy. I think I wanted it to be more impressive than it is, although it is still a very fine dram. With all due respect to Paul, and perhaps we have different sensory experiences, I think its drawbacks for me, is that it is a little too bourbon heavy for my tastes. I love rum and I love port, so I assumed that this rum would probably be an all-time top 3 for me and therefore I over-estimated it. I think most people will love it, especially bourbon drinkers, as it is very bourbon heavy, but it just doesn't reach the highest level for me. That said it is definitely a very high quality rum, without question and had they let it age a little longer in the Port Casks and a little less in the Bourbon casks, I think it would have hit that highest level for me. But enough about my preferences. Heres is the breakdown:

The nose is absolutely delightful, and if I was judging on the nose alone this would be a 10/10. The nose is very complex starting with Port, Nutmeg, Walnuts, and Oranges on top with underlying notes of Dark Grapes, Bananas, Allspice, and Caramel. There is also just a slight note like acetone in there as well. All in all a pretty damn impressive nose which led me to believe this was going to be an all timer. Unfortunately, the palate lets me down a little as it goes too bourbon heavy. On the palate you get a heavy, heavy dose of bourbon, and aged oak, with a dose of Macadamia nuts. There are lighter notes of Vanilla, Honey, and Port playing in the background morphing into sour cherry leading up to the finish. The finish itself though is yet more bourbon and oak with lighter essences of Nutmeg, Allspice, and hints of Port. Water does indeed open up this rum and brings out its nuttier notes which improves the longevity of the experience.

I really wish the Port, Nutmeg, Walnut, and Orange notes that were promised on the nose were more present on the palate but bourbon drinkers will undoubtedly be quite pleased with this offering. This rum has extraordinary promise on the nose, but just doesn't quite back it up no the palate like some other Foursquare products do. Adding a good amount water will open up the Walnut and Macadamia nut aspects of this rum, so if that's what you like that just keep that in mind. Its just that at $65 this is about on the same level experience-wise as Doorly's 12 year (although with a different profile) and that rum can be had for $25 from the same distillery and under the same standards. Overall this is a very, very good rum make no mistake about that...but its just not next level like the 2007 ECS is and what I had hoped for. This is an 7.5 for me but not quite a round up to 8.

Nose: 9
Palate: 8
Aftertaste: 7
Smoothness: 8
Versatility: 8
Price: 5

Total: 7.5