Tasting Notes for Foursquare Redoutable - Exceptional Cask Series
Nose: A wonderfully complex, captivating and developing nose of black tea, cocoa powder, dried orange peel, medjool dates, dried vanilla pod, dark cane sugar, salted caramel, and brazil nuts. A hint of cardamom pods and coriander seeds.
Taste: A luscious, silky rush of tangy candied pineapple, and baked spiced apple tart collide in a warming embrace. Prickly, peppery, and revealing a delicate menthol note.
Finish: A lasting fade of dried fruit and spices into the smoke and char of the cask.
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Foursquare Redoutable is the fifteenth release (Mark XV) in the Exceptional Cask Selection (ECS) series. A cask blend of fourteen year old ex-bourbon American white oak, and fourteen year old first fill ex-madeira. Presented at 61%ABV, this 'formidable' release really is worthy of respect as the name would imply. In keeping with the untouched nature of the cask strength ECS releases, Redoutable is non chill filtered, and free from added colour, sweeteners, and other flavourings. When the name of the bottling is shown in green text, it would indicate a full strength, limited release of a blend of cask types in the ECS series. This release is the successor to Nobiliary, and compliments the previous rare series Détente (with the name shown in red), and 2008 Vintage release (coloured blue on the label). Redoutable has a very limited global release.
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In some spirit categories there are distilleries which just stand out for excellence. Buffalo Trace for bourbons, Middleton for Irish whiskeys, to name but two examples. The equilvalent distillery in the rum world, for us anyway, is the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. They simply do not make bad rum.
The FourSquare Distillery is owned by R.L Seale & Company, a fourth generation family business started in the 1926 and now run by Sir David Seale and his son Richard. After spending decades perfecting their techniques in blending rum, they finally started producing their own when they took over and refurbished an old abandoned Sugar Factory in 1995. Production started in 1996 and the awards have been flowing in ever since, including the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) Rum Producer of the Year four times, in 2016 through 2019 and the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) Rum Producer of the Year in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Distilling operations are overseen by Richard Seale, who has developed a reputation for innovation and embracing new technologies. Surprisingly, despite the distillery being located in the middle of a sugar plantation, they need to import most of their molasses from neighbouring Guyana (the sugar cane factory was separated from the old plantation in the 1950's).
The rums produced at Foursquare are generally a blend of pot and column stills, and rums are blended both before and after aging. As is the norm, aging is usually done in ex-bourbon casks, but they have also use ex-sherry, madeira, port and zinfadel casks in smaller amounts. Casks are filled at 65-68% abv for greater wood extraction, which is rare as most rum producers fill casks above 70% and many approaching 80% abv. Absolutely no additives are ever added to Foursquare rums.
In a time when many producers take average rum and throw in some sugar or other additives to cover up flaws and fool the public into paying a premium (we won't mention names, but will always point out when additives have been introduced), Foursquare have taken a systematic approach to their distillation. Using the most modern equipment and techniques available, together with a strong focus on producing to the highest quality, ensures that the rum speak for itself. No additives required! -
Producer Foursquare Distillery Style Single Blended Rum Age A minimum of 14 years Volume 75CL ABV 61%