Foursquare : Penultimus Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XXX

Tasting notes and characteristics of the Penultimus Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XXX by Foursquare

Tasting

Appearance
Displaying a deep amber hue leaning towards mahogany and dark copper, this rum reveals superb golden and slightly reddish highlights. Its entirely natural colour shows remarkable viscosity, with thick tears slowly sliding down the glass.

Nose
Highly complex, the nose opens on dark, deep notes of bitter dark chocolate, brewed black tea leaves and ground spices. It then evolves towards indulgent aromas of Medjool dates, figs and dried banana. With aeration, a beautiful freshness emerges through hints of green grape, ripe pineapple, golden melon and zesty lemon, all underpinned by an elegant base of fine wood, vanilla and light tobacco.

Palate
The attack is smooth, gentle and oily, delivering a superb balance with a resolutely dry structure. The palate unfolds rich flavours of delicate caramel, dark chocolate and dried coconut, enhanced by the lusciousness of golden melon and ripe pineapple. The finish is exceptionally long and taut, marked by refreshing notes of lemon sorbet, spices and an elegant astringency reminiscent of green grape skin.

Food pairings and tasting moments
This exceptional spirit is ideally enjoyed neat, served between 18 and 20°C in a tulip glass, after extended aeration to release all its subtleties. Perfect at the end of a meal, it pairs masterfully with an intense dark chocolate (70 to 80% cocoa), a dried-fruit dessert or gingerbread. Lovers of bold pairings will also appreciate it with aged hard cheeses, such as an aged Comté, or a mild blue cheese. It is also a wonderful match for a black coffee or a cigar.

Mixology
Although it is first and foremost an exceptional product meant to be savoured neat, it can be incorporated into top-tier mixology. It will elevate spirit-forward cocktails in which the rum remains the leading character, such as a revisited Old Fashioned with a light cane sugar syrup and a few drops of cocoa or orange bitters.

A Barbados rum of great elegance crafted by Foursquare

Foursquare Rum Distillery: the excellence of Barbados Rum
Founded in 1995 on the site of a former 18th-century sugar plantation in the parish of Saint Philip, Foursquare Rum Distillery is today an essential benchmark for Barbados Rum. Owned by the Seale family, led by Sir David Seale and his son Richard Seale, master distiller, it is the only distillery on the island that remains entirely in the hands of a Barbadian family. Heir to the trading expertise of R.L. Seale & Co. (1926), Foursquare stands out for its production facility combining a double-retort Pot Still and a Coffey column. The distillery is globally recognised for its uncompromising philosophy: total transparency, full ageing under tropical climate, and a strict absence of additives.

Penultimus Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XXX: a masterful limited edition
The Penultimus Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XXX is a molasses rum of rare complexity, classified as a Single Blended Rum. It is the result of a meticulous blend of distillates from the distillery's Pot Still and Coffey column.

This thirtieth edition of the prestigious ECS collection stands out for its full 15-year ageing under the tropical Caribbean climate. Its blend rests on two distinct components: a first rum aged for 15 years exclusively in American oak ex-bourbon casks, and a second that benefited from a double maturation (10 years in ex-bourbon casks followed by 5 years in Spanish ex-moscatel wine casks). This is, incidentally, the very first time the distillery has used moscatel casks for this range, bringing an unprecedented aromatic dimension.

Meaning "second to last", the name of this limited edition suggests that it is the penultimate chapter of the famous Exceptional Cask Selection series. Bottled at 57% ABV, with no chill filtration or any additives, this Barbados rum is aimed at connoisseurs in search of authenticity. It embodies the culmination of the house's expertise, offering a pure, dry and deeply expressive tasting experience that has already won over critics and enthusiasts around the world.