Velier Foursquare Raconteur

 Nice foursquare! but for me not quite at the level of destino or plenipotenzario. A bit beastly, but still really tasty 😁the oloroso cask clearly intensifies the nutty notes! The alcohol integration could be a little better, otherwise the score might be higher.

 Overall a fantastic and very complex rum. We were some friends teaming up at Cane Rum Society in Stockholm to celebrate Foursquare Appreciation Day. After our planned tasting of four different Foursquare ECS’s led by our friend the Swedish importer, Lars Renbjer, we went on with two Foursquare Velier releases. First out was the Raconteur the 8th rum in the collaboration between Luca Gargano of Velier and Richard Seale of Foursquare. Raconteur is a blend of rums distilled in 2006 in Coffey column stills and double copper retort pot stills. The first rum in the blend was aged in ex-bourbon casks for 17 years, while the second benefited from a double maturation: 5 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 12 years in old oloroso sherry barrels. This release, of 4800 bottles, is the oldest offered in the Foursquare Velier series.

 Velier FS (+ a fee spected other contenders) blind cross tasting: Honestly, the results here were very close. The Belier bottlings display a very high quality thourgout the range. Triptych and Pleni came out on top for me closely followed by Destino. I was somewhat surprised, that Sassafras and 2006 came out rather at the bottom, while I enjoyed both very much on their own. Raconteur also quite low in the ranking with Principia clearly at the bottom.

 Massive milk chocolate on the nose. Otherwise typical Fourquare. Round, balanced, not too complex, alcohol well integrated. As expected, a very good rum. Craft top and very drinkable. New territory? No. Lines up well-behaved in the second quartile. Thanks to Bonn for the sample! Edit: Now leisurely the rest of the sample. Immediately after pouring it is a bit more complex and becomes round and balanced after about 30 minutes. Must say that it is one of the better Fourquares, goes in the direction of Plenipotenziario (Mango), without reaching its class.

 Excellent Foursquare with a lot of depth. Certainly belongs to the best Foursquares next to Sassafras and Pleni. Needs some time in the glass, but then delivers great. The sherry note is also not as dominant as in the Principia, but rather acts as a pleasant complement. Unfortunately expensive, but that's life.

 In the nose much fruitier and a little lighter than the Destino. Great aroma! On the palate creamy, spicy and somewhat edgy. Very good, but the alcohol is integrated in the Destino but again ne number better. The Oloroso maturation is noticeable, but not too dominant. Very good Foursquare, but to my taste does not reach the epic quality of the Destino.

 #4160 Finally got home after 4 days in Berlin. The number of this tasting is not in the right order, but I'll just continue from here when I add the rums sampled in Berlin 😊 This one is an OK rum, but not the best they've done. Fruity with nice well integrated wood and a lovely spicy palate. The caramel is light as is the glue note on the nose. Long warm finish. Draws thick slow moving curtains and the empty glass is really nice and I can pick up some chocolate, floral and light medicinal notes.

 Edit: The Swell and the Barbados 2006 Flag Series have been added to the big crosstasting of the Velier bottlings. Unfortunately it has not yet been possible to get a sample of the 70th. In general, it can be said that there were no major differences on the nose when flying blind. However, there are recognizable differences in the taste itself. In my opinion, however, three clearly stand out and bring up the rear. Still too sharp-edged at the back for me, a little more intense in terms of aromas compared to the ECS, but very questionable for the price. I did buy another bottle for my wife, but I probably wouldn't have gone for it again on my own. After it has breathed longer or with a few drops of water, it becomes more accessible

 I find it extremely good! Here a 17 year tropical maturation with nice chocolate and coconut notes come together with a great oloroso finish with complementary fruity notes. Must taste soon with my Foursquare favorites Hereditas and Destino.

 Really nice foursquare profile with tropical aging! The oloroso cask is notable and well integrated, without overwhelming. The alcohol is perfect integrated, what makes this one a really good sipper.

 Oh wow! This foursquare is really crazy! Balance and mouthiness from start to finish! The many years in barrel and the oloroso finish give it a beautiful complexity and flavors that I love! You can't ask for more from a rum!

 Then it was time for this exciting Foursquare 🥃 - The taste is very strong and rich in the mouth with notes of burnt caramel, spices and tea - it has a long and tasty aftertaste - I think this Raconteur is very well balanced and is definitely one of my favorites among Foursquare 👍😁

 A lovely Foursquare that opens with an intense, gourmand nose of red fruit and raisin aromas. Pineapple and coconut are part of the scenery, but greediness returns with warm spices (nutmeg, vanilla, sweet pepper) and milk chocolate, topped with caramel and a hint of crème brûlée. Notes of honey and burnt sugar echo these sweet, generous notes, but are counterbalanced by a smoky, roasted touch and a hint of glue that add complexity to the nose. Not revolutionary, but very pleasant and controlled. The palate is warm and spicy. Vanilla, nutmeg and pepper follow, accompanied by chocolate, caramel and hazelnuts. The warmth returns with notes of tobacco and smoke, giving power to the palate. Bourbon and coconut bring out the sweetness, accentuated by dried and exotic fruits. The profile is powerful yet well integrated. The finish is long, with a mellow, gourmand framework on the Foursquare markers, as well as a more atypical touch of leather and smoke. A rum that breaks away a little from the traditional Foursquare spirit, with beautiful fruity and smoky notes, a nice roundness and which is very controlled despite its intensity.

 Rum tasting number 100! 🥳 so why not try something slightly special like the Raconteur. A fantastic foursquare, I really like what they put out. It doesn't really go beyond the ECS rums I've tried tried but very good indeed. A great nose, Full bodied, creamy, spicy and I get vanilla, chocolate and caramel on the palate, coconut? Some fruits as well. Powerfull but well integrated. I'm not sure that it deserves all the velier hype that goes with it but it's a great rum. Medium to long finish. Would be interesting to do a comparison tasting with the origional 2006.

 Nice foursquare, accentuated roasted aromas, concise spices, as well as the dried fruit notes to be expected in view of the storage in ex-Cognac barrels, but I also recognize subtle fresh fruity hints. I like it, another successful selection from Velier!