Foursquare ECS XXIV

"Another high quality bottling out of the „vintage“ ECS range at a very good price point. Delivers the classic Foursquate notes at a high ABV (ie high intensity), providing a nice sipping experience. Side-by-side with the 2010 ECS, this one is more „classic FS“ on the lose, while the 2010 has (even after quite some oxidation in the opened bottle) much more glue in the nose. On the palate both are closer. Yet the 2011 is more round and balanced, while the 2010 version delivers some more punch."

"8,8:On the nose we firstly find cinnamon buns😄! When we move forward there is a cooperation between zesty lemon and olive/almondy oil top note that goes through and over delicious caramel with notes of white chocolate, fresh ginger and dried, toasted coconut. Airing brings toasted wood and fresh, juicy tropical fruits, bourbon fruits like stewed peaches, juicy prunes and some dried fruits as well. Pure deliciousness.... 😋. 9,2:On the palate we are attacked with treacle tart and vanilla ice cream covered with juicy sultanas, tropical fruits like tasty mango and passion fruit, poached bourbony summer fruits and crispy, tender tart plums at the end.We get a little bit of drieness here which is in harmony with fruity sweetness. 9,2:The finish is extraordinary with blueberry, connecting the notes of fresh ginger, black cherry, with a warm finish, lingering drieness and pepper, sweet spice at the end. If we compare 2010 and 2011, this one is even more rounded, harmonious, complex and very smooth. No afterburn at all, inspite of 60% ABV. TOP👌🙂..."

"Classic Foursquare! I am thoroughly enjoying this one, which has a lovely mouthfeel which is quite oily/creamy. It has quite a nose on it. On the palate I am getting coconut, vanilla, wood, and a natural sweetness in the background. I prefer this over the 2010 with a superior nose and mouthfeel."

"#4992 22.12.2024 Enjoying some samples at home. Nose Round, light wood, light roasted, light coconut, faint varnish, light cherry, spice. Palate Round, balanced, light wood, fruits, light coconut, natural sweetness, cherry, faint nutts, cinnamon. Finish Medium to long, wood, light tannins, cherry, light chocolate, light coconut. The empty glass has vanilla, light caramel and plums."

"Could not convince me at the first tasting. Needs a lot of time in the glass until the alcohol makes room for further aromas and remains present and stings a little in the nose. Takes a back seat in direct comparison with the other "current" bottlings TWE Mystique and FS Covenant. On the 2nd tasting, surprisingly many floral notes on the attack. Still not on a par with the competition."

"Franconian Tasting Gang on 10.05.2024 Tasted again in direct comparison with the Foursquare ECS 2010. I personally like the ECS2011 a tick better. I think it has a nice creaminess with coconut on the palate."

"This 2011 release is complex and pure drinkability 👏"

"Tasted at Zabo during a quick sample exchange. Bourbon Cask works great at Foursquare and it's the same here. Of course not at Pleni level and possibly a little too alcoholic in the finish but really top for 99 euros. You can take it for the RRP without inhibitions ..."

"Rum Festival 20.09.2024 As expected, you won't be surprised here. Typical profile. The vintage bottlings in the ECS range are at least solidly very good and one or two are capable of advancing into the 90s (2004, 2007). This one is more in the lower third, which is still very good."

"Had to compete against the Covenant and the Mystique today and ended up in the midfield. Typical Foursquare with predominantly woody notes. For me, it's slightly better than the Covenant, but it doesn't quite come close to the Mystique. Solid Barbados rum, the alcohol could be better integrated."

"An unsurprising Foursquare. We find the distillery's usual hallmarks: woody, coconut, exotic fruits coated by the roundness of the bourbon cask. The value for money of these releases is starting to decline, in my opinion."

"It already has a beautiful mahogany color. The nose is typical of Foursquare, with a whiff of candied exotic fruit. There's mango and pineapple caramelized in brown sugar, under a very present woody background, in the form of wood dust. It's like stepping into a cabinetmaker's workshop. The second nose brings out the power of coconut powder on a carpet of vanilla. The whole is very gourmand, reminiscent of dark chocolate with caramel chips. The alcohol, however, stings the nostrils. Other, more pungent spices lurk: a hint of allspice, cayenne pepper powder. A very pleasant nose. Let's move on to the palate. The alcohol is poorly integrated and takes up a lot of space from the first sip. This is this rum's major weakness. It lags far behind Distilia's Calico Jack, with its 15 years of ageing and 58% alcohol content, which is much easier to drink. The woodiness is still very present, in line with the nose. Dry coconut coats the palate, with virile spices: nutmeg, ginger. The fruit becomes drier, like the dried exotic fruits we pick up in aperitif mixes: raisins, cubed papaya, pineapple and dried coconut shavings. The base notes are of vanilla and milk chocolate. This rum is more suited to sharing among connoisseurs as an aperitif than to an evening by the fireside with cigars and philosophical discussions. The finish is quite long and sticky, slightly bitter. Not the best Foursquare I've ever had. Well, it was before I tasted the Calico Jack, which isn't in the same league at all. It is, however, better than the Indelible."

"Nice Foursquare, but the alcohol could be better integrated. A little flat overall."

"If I didn't know, I would never have guessed a Foursquare. I've had much better bottlings of the ECS in my glass so far. Very dry and tart. I prefer it a little fruitier."

"Foursquare Exceptional Cask 2011 is a truly excellent rum. It deserves to be aerated to fully express its potential. The nose is complex, dominated by vanilla and tropical fruit. On the palate, it's vanilla, sweet and caramelized. The long finish is also dominated by vanilla and caramel."