Foursquare 2004 Empery 14-Year

Picked this up during a recent trip to the states. Has a fantastic nose, sweet caramel and fruits filled the air after pouring a cup. For 56% it was quite smooth, but did feel a mellow burn. If you, like me, started out liking sweeter rums then this is a rum that is still a bit sweet but just the right amount. I added a couple drops of water (at the suggestion of my whiskey drinking brother in law) and wow did that rum ever open up. The burn was gone and the flavor came even more alive. Caramel and pinnapple with a very creamy and smooth taste. This might be my favorite.

At this point every rum from Foursquare is a winner in my eyes and this is no exception. It starts off with a beautiful nose of dried fruit with some vanilla. The nose pails to the first taste which even though is sweet is still complex with spice and the flavor of the bourbon and sherry casks. I've written this before regarding the other Foursquare offering but the fact the they can make something taste so smooth and complex without additives is a testament to how it should be done. I love this rum and wish I bought more than one bottle.

Foursquare Rum Distillery Empery is a blend of Pot/Column distilled rum aged for14 years in ex-bourbon casks and a portion of Pot Column distilled rum which was aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks and then matured for a further 4 years in ex-sherry casks. It has been bottled at Cask Strength 56& ABV. Dark chocolate fruit with hint of blackberry. Woody spicy oak vanilla with a touch of ginger. Very well rounded and a great sipper. Infactrhe longeryou wait between sips the more your mouth says “ may I have some more please.” Paid $127 US and worth every dime.

It's getting to the point where every rum Foursquare release is a solid 9 or 10, and this is no exception.
Not a long way off Destino - arguably one of the finest rums in the world - but benefits from being a) affordable and b) available.

Smooth, sweet and really complex. A splash of water opens it up even further, but the extra heat at full strength is welcome.

If you're feeling extravagant, it makes an INCREDIBLE daiquiri too!

Exceptional Cask Selection Mark IX, released in 2019. Aged 14 years (mix of blended rum aged 14 years in bourbon casks, and pot still rum aged 10 years in bourbon followed by 4 in sherry casks). 100% tropical aging, 56% ABV.

I'm kinda surprised no one has reviewed this one yet. I didn't have a big sample, but have tried to stretch it out over a few days :) Nose has caramel, vanilla, oak, raisins. The palate is big, with quite a bit of oak spice, and finishes with those nice fruity sherry notes. Hint of cherry. But it's all very dry, with a tinge of bitterness.

What can I say? It's not my favorite ECS, but it's still exceptional rum. Would be interesting to compare with similar releases Hereditas and Patrimonio. I look forward to more releases with wine barrel aging, ideally a little younger so as to be wallet-friendly :)

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