Foursquare : Exceptional Cask Selection Mark X 2007

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection Mark X 2007

Tasting notes

Appearance

Mark X 2007 displays a deep amber hue, typical of a rum that has spent twelve years ageing in the tropics in ex-bourbon American oak casks. In the glass, its viscosity shows in slow legs running down the sides, a sign of a rich, concentrated body.

Nose

The nose is immediate and expressive, carried by the rum's high strength. It reveals notes of coffee, tobacco, leather and cigar, joined by touches of coconut, vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and lightly toasted panettone. A discreet hint of solvent accompanies this aromatic palette without ever dominating it.

Palate

The attack is warm and concentrated, evoking an unsweetened maple syrup in which soft wood, butterscotch, vanilla and tobacco intermingle. The development reveals notes of coconut, brioche and nuts, before a long, indulgent finish dominated by toasted American oak, coffee and dark chocolate.

Pairings and tasting occasions

This rum is best enjoyed neat, in a tulip glass or a copita, allowing its aromas to express themselves fully after a few minutes of aeration. It pairs well with a dark chocolate fondant, a pecan pie or an espresso, and also goes nicely with a medium-strength cigar.

Mixology

A rare and complex product, Mark X 2007 is above all intended to be sipped neat, without artifice, in order to preserve the finesse of its woody profile and the length of its finish.

An exceptional Barbadian rum from the Foursquare distillery, pure ex-bourbon and unsweetened

Foursquare, the Barbadian distillery reinventing sipping rum
Foursquare is a Barbadian rum distillery founded in 1996 by Sir David Seale on the site of a former sugar factory in the parish of Saint Philip, whose history dates back to the 17th century. Owned by the Seale family for four generations, Foursquare is now run by Richard Seale, CEO and Head Distiller, while Sir David Seale serves as chairman. The distillery stands out for its financial independence, being the only rum distillery entirely owned by Barbadian interests. Foursquare combines traditional pot stills with a continuous column to craft "single blended" rums, aged in a tropical climate with no added sugar or colouring. This philosophy of integrity and transparency has earned the distillery international recognition, notably through its limited-edition Exceptional Cask Selection series.

Exceptional Cask Selection Mark X 2007: an emblematic single blended rum from Foursquare

This Exceptional Cask Selection Mark X 2007 is a Barbadian rum crafted by Foursquare from molasses, following the "Single Blended Rum" principle: a blend of distillates from double retort copper pot stills and a continuous column, both produced on the same site. Distilled in 2007, this rum was aged for twelve years in a tropical climate, entirely in American oak casks that previously held bourbon, with no additional finishing in wine or brandy casks. Bottled in 2019 at 59% ABV, it has had no added sugar, colouring or flavouring, in keeping with the house's philosophy of transparency.

This vintage is part of the Exceptional Cask Selection series, launched in 2008, which has allowed Foursquare to explore different maturations while maintaining a recognisable stylistic signature. The third ex-bourbon cask-strength vintage in the range, following the 2004 and 2005 editions, Mark X 2007 consolidates a formula that has become emblematic of the distillery's style. Its limited production and highly favourable critical reception have made it a sought-after reference among enthusiasts and collectors, and it is now hard to find at its original release price on the market.