Review #52: Rum SixtySix Barbados Foursquare Cask 12 Year
Originally, we actually started getting into whisky via the path of rum at Smuggler’s Cove. So it feels a bit late to only begin posting reviews of rums, since we’re both now Master’s of the Cove, with over 110 rums each and our names on the wall, which is a far cry from our early day of being Disciples of the Cove (a title given when you drink and read your way through the educational introduction chapters). But better late than never, amirite?
We found two rums from Foursquare that we hadn’t yet tried. This is a review of the second, the Foursquare Cask 6 year.
We tried this on a Monday evening – at the first Rumbustion Recruitment event aimed at getting new people to join our cult of rum drinkers. Smugglers was also offering a 10% discount, so it was a good time to try new things. And because Foursquare generally produces some good stuff, we selected these two.
Rum SixtySix Barbados Foursquare Cask 12 Year Review
- Score - 5/105/10
Overall
Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramel and strong vanilla. Alcohol. Salted caramel and brown sugar. Cough syrup.
Palate: Strangely sweet – a bit like artificial Splenda sugar – with the addition of caramel extract. The finish has tannic oak and burn. I wrote down “needs water” (but not surprising, since it’s 59% ABV).
Overall, I really tend to enjoy Foursquare rums and I especially like their popular cask finishes. But these just felt a bit staid in flavor. Calling the 6-year “aged vodka” is admittedly a bit harsh, but it was the descriptor that jumped to mind when I was jotting this in my notebook. We found neither exceptional, but now that I’ve researched the Sixty Six line, I’m very interested in trying their popular 12 year Family Reserve.
Quick overview of our scoring system
Additional Information
- ABV: 40% (6-year) and 59% (12-year cask strength)
- Both: Sugarcane
- Both: Blend of pot still and traditional column still
- Minimum 6 years and minimum 12 years respectively in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels (Jack Daniels)
- Bajan Rum (St. Philip Barbados)
About Foursquare:
- Run by Richard Seale, one of the more polarizing master distillers out there
- The “age statement” of Foursquare follows whisky rules, with the age being the minimum age of the spirit. In comparison, most rum brands use a more deceptive “solera ageing” and instead list the age of the oldest rum in the blend.