Foursquare 2010 Exceptional Cask Selection XXI 12-Year

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the Foursquare rums. They're generally a bit dry with a too much bourbon aging. But this is above their average.

This rum has a strong bourbon flavor. Strong at 60%abv, but decent.

An above average rum from Foursquare, but I prefer their 2004, as it's a tad sweeter. :-)

Purchased a bottle of FS 2010 yesterday and sampled it tonight. Had I blind tested this one I would without a doubt have guessed Foursquare rum. Familiar aroma and taste, similar to the 2007 & 2008. Can never go wrong with FS ECS rums. Another great rum by Richard Seale. 👍

Sweetness, spices, full bodied but never overpowering. Right up there with one of the best years yet and a little different to 07, 08 and 09 which is nice :)

Wow what a great rainy day in Barbados. Visited Foursquare this morning and was offered a sample of 2010 their newest release that’s not distributed yet even in Barbados.

The tasting went on for over an hour and just before leaving the right hand man came in with the two cases and I was able to leave with the first 3 bottles sold in the world. One to drink now 2 to bring home.

Now on to the meat and potatoes, 2010 is aptly named as it carry’s on the tradition of 2008, 2009 with the classic Foursquare Bourbon notes just damn good solid lingering rum.

Coconut, cocoa, dark chocolate in aroma; sweeter caramel start, spices (clove and cinnamon) and wood barrel in body; warming barrel tail.

This rum introduced me to high proof spirits, took awhile to get used to the hotness. , Anyway now they are the only spirits I buy. This is a Bourbon drinkers rum. molasses hint, caramel, oak, vanilla, dark fruits, sorta like a Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux Caramelized Crisp Cookie. I liked it so much I went back and bought 3 more bottles. I probably would've given it a 10 but this is my first review,

10-Nose:The aroma delivers notes of vanilla, pineapple, rock fruit, sweet mango, funkiness and ripe bananas front and center. At the midpoint, I found anise, black cherry, and orange zest. As these notes fade, a light note of acetone drifts in along with black pepper and graphite mineral notes.
10-Palate:Like the aroma, the caramelized vanilla leads the way with a warm, dry entry. Fruit and spice notes hit the palate fast, and it takes a little while to decipher everything coming at the palate. I found flavor notes of peach, banana flambe, plums, and grilled pineapple. Spice notes arrive mid-palate, releasing black pepper, cloves, anise, cinnamon, baking spices, and a strong dose of alcohol.
10-Finish: As the flavors fade, the pepper lingers a bit, and the oak tannins really come out to play in a long, warm end.

Strong with lots of flavor. This is the rum I pull out when my whiskey drinking friends come around.

Banana and caramel notes. Good rum but a little expensive. I've had just as good for half the price.

I was a little nervous with the high proof, and there is indeed quite a bit of burn. After the first sip, however, you acclimate and the flavors come out… a bit of sweetness and lots of complexity. I am slowly working my way through the bottle since I believe these are limited production. This is the first ECS (Exceptional Cask Selection) product I have tried from Four Square.