Foursquare - Penultimus - 15 years - 57%
Foursquare Penultimus is one of the most anticipated bottlings in the famous Exceptional Cask Selection series, a collection that has become essential for fans of Barbados rums. This Mark XXX edition perfectly lives up to its name, as it announces the penultimate chapter of a series that has deeply marked the contemporary rum world. Produced at the Foursquare Rum Distillery, a family-run reference house led by the Seale family, this rum once again illustrates the precision, transparency, and high standards that have built the estate's reputation. Penultimus is a Single Blended Rum, made by blending distillates produced both in pot still and column still, in the traditional Barbadian style. Aged 15 years in a tropical climate, it benefits from a remarkable natural concentration, with an intensity perfectly balanced by harmony. Bottled at 57%, it retains an expressive power that remains elegant without tipping into showiness. This vintage stands out especially for a first in the ECS collection: the use of Spanish Moscatel casks, which bring a unique aromatic dimension to the Foursquare identity.
The blend of Foursquare Penultimus is based on two complementary profiles, worked with the technical rigor characteristic of the distillery. The first rum underwent a double aging process, with 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels followed by 5 years in ex-Moscatel barrels, while the second was aged for 15 years exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels. This structure preserves Foursquare's classic backbone, marked by American oak, spices, and the depth of bourbon cask, while adding a more vinous, fruity, and slightly tannic touch. The Moscatel enriches the profile without saturating it, bringing nuances of grape, ripe fruits, and citrus that interact with the dry structure of the rum. On the nose, the notes provided by the producer evoke bitter dark chocolate, black tea leaves, ground spices, and Medjool dates. Accents of dried coconut, green grape skin, banana chips, and lemon zest extend this complexity. The whole composes a rum that is dense, precise, and very readable, where each cask influence seems to play its role without masking the signature of Barbados.
On the palate, Foursquare Penultimus reveals a supple, soft, and oily texture, supported by a beautiful aromatic maturity. Notes of golden melon, ripe pineapple, delicate caramel, and dark chocolate give a gourmand impression but remain structured by the natural strength of the rum. The 57% ABV brings breadth and depth while revealing remarkable precision in the balance between tropical fruits, fine wood, cocoa, and spices. The finish is long, fresh, and slightly astringent, evolving towards lemon sorbet and green grape skin. This final tension recalls the influence of Moscatel, which brings a livelier and more original signature than the more classic maturations of the series. Penultimus will seduce Foursquare collectors as well as tasters seeking a rum of great intensity, without superfluous additions and carried by a true cask identity. It is a major edition, both symbolic and unique, confirming Foursquare's place among the absolute references of tasting rum.
