Foursquare 2021 High Ester White Rum – 62%

Foursquare 2021 High Ester White Rum – 62%

Stats: This rum is a blend of unaged, pure pot distillates made from 100% local cane by Foursquare in Barbados. One of the distillates is the product of a several week long natural fermentation of fresh cane juice, while the other is a 72 hour ferment of molasses and cultured yeast. The result is a high ester rum bottled at 62% ABV.

Source: Sample provided by a generous friend of the rum community 

Conditions: Enjoyed neat in a “Perfect Whiskey” glass over one 30 minute session  

Nose: Initial heavy varnish quickly mellows to tons of graham cracker, cinnamon bark, mango, raspberry jam, popcorn, ocean mist, plain yogurt, pen ink 

Mouth: Canned fruit salad, cinnamon, cracked pepper, spoiling pineapple juice, day old trash, soy sauce, bitterness, plastic wrap and taffy lingers. Heat comes off moderate considering the high proof and lack of barrel mellowness.

Final Thoughts: If this were a blind tasting, Barbados would not be in my top 20 guesses, although it does contain a couple of Foursquare’s signature notes. There’s a super unique nose and it’s funky on the palate, the result of long fermentation and pot distillation. I find this to be more interesting and drinkable than some of the recent ester bombs I’ve tried such as Rivers and Mhoba. I don’t imagine this is something that would be a continuous release in the Foursquare portfolio, at least not in its unaged state, but it’s great to see what they’re able to accomplish thinking outside the box, yet within the parameters of the proposed GI. Once again I’m impressed by the magic of Richard Seale and excited to see what the future holds from this magnificent distillery.  

My Rating: 4

My Scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Best used for mixing
3 – Decent sipper
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I’m buying a back up bottle