Foursquare : Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009 Foursquare

Tasting

Appearance
In the glass, the Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009 reveals an amber colour with copper highlights, shaped solely by its twelve years of ageing in bourbon casks, with no artificial colouring. The absence of chill filtration gives it a full texture and a slight density, hinting at a rich and generous palate.

Nose
The nose opens on red and black fruits, cranberry, cherry and blackcurrant, before drifting towards tropical touches of mango and baking spices such as Ceylon cinnamon and allspice. Aromas of cocoa, vanilla pods, toasted coconut and caramel complete this bouquet, lifted by a hint of green chili, tobacco and coffee that bring depth and complexity.

Palate
The attack is bright and fresh, carried by a spicy structure in which cinnamon, clove and allspice mingle with citrus zest and ripe fruit. A sweetness reminiscent of fresh caramel and candy gradually settles in, balanced by the power of the 60% ABV, remarkably well integrated for such intensity, before a dry, spicy finish with notes of vanilla and toasted wood.

Pairings and Tasting Occasions

The Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009 is ideally enjoyed neat, at the end of a meal or evening, in a tulip glass at room temperature, in order to appreciate its full aromatic richness. Its indulgent profile, combining dark chocolate, coffee, toffee and spices, pairs well with chocolate desserts such as a fondant or a mousse, as well as with caramel pastries or crème brûlée. Lovers of hard or blue-veined cheeses, or of medium to full-bodied cigars, will also find in it an excellent companion.

Mixology

Given its exceptional character and limited-edition status, this rum is above all designed to be enjoyed neat, without artifice, in order to fully reveal the richness of its aromatic profile.

Other Characteristics

This rum is a blend of pot still and column distillates, described as a "single blended rum", aged in first-, second- and third-fill ex-bourbon casks. It is bottled close to cask strength (60% ABV), without chill filtration and with no added sugar or colouring, in the purest tradition of non-adulteration championed by the Foursquare distillery.

An Intense, Spicy Barbados Rum by Foursquare

Foursquare, the Benchmark for Barbadian Rum

Founded in 1996 by Sir David Seale on the site of a former sugar factory in Four Roads, in the parish of Saint Philip, the Foursquare distillery has established itself as a global benchmark for Barbados Rum. Led today by Richard Seale, master distiller and master blender and fourth generation of the Seale family, Foursquare combines copper double retort pot stills with a vacuum Coffey column still to craft molasses rums aged in a tropical climate. Faithful to a philosophy of total transparency, the house prohibits any addition of sugar, colouring or flavouring. Its Exceptional Cask Selection series, Richard Seale's laboratory of excellence, has earned Foursquare unrivalled critical acclaim in the premium rum category.

Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009: An Exceptional Aged Rum

The Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII 2009 is an aged rum from the eponymous series launched in 2008 by Foursquare, a true testing ground for Richard Seale's work on long maturations and distillate blends. Made from molasses, this single blended rum combines pot still and column distillates, distilled in 2009 and aged for twelve years in the warehouses of Barbados, in a combination of first-, second- and third-fill ex-bourbon casks. Bottled at 60% ABV, not chill-filtered and free of any additives, this rum stands among the house's most accomplished cuvées, remaining true to the exclusively "bourbon cask" style with no additional finishing. Often described as a "classic Foursquare" for its balance of coconut, cocoa, vanilla and spices, this rum has earned a reputation as a reliable standout within the Exceptional Cask Selection range, once again celebrating the Seale family's blending expertise.