Foursquare ECS XXVI Magisterium 2008

Tasted at UK rumfest 2024

The nose is very restrained at first, but opens up with plenty of time in the glass. Then lots of spicy and woody aromas, but also a nice coffee/malt note that is somewhat reminiscent of the Diamond SVL/MDS bottlings. More on the spicy, woody side on the palate. All in all, I like it very much. Rating confirmed in another (blind) tasting. Stands out clearly from the other FS bottlings due to the distinctive coffee note.

Really nice Foursquare! Not too sweet and the sherry finish is not too dominant. Coconut, dark chocolate, cinnamon, some pineapple, caramel, cinnamon and pleasant tannins. Really a very round thing!

Tasted at the UK RumFest, and not a fully in depth tasting - overall impressions were that it’s a very smooth rum and the sherry brings a nice seeetness to the typical foursquare profile. I have a bottle of Sovereignty (also a sherry double maturation blend) on the go at home and I think the Magisterium tops it. I’ll certainly be hoping to get a bottle when it is released. The guys on the Foursquare stand were really knowledgeable and welcoming. I also got to meet Richard Seale later in the day too as he staed around after his masterclass.

For me, without direct comparison, one of the best Foursquare bottlings. Alcohol very well integrated, lots of pot on the palate, column not in the foreground. Edit: compared to the Distilia FS Apollo better integrated and less column.

For me once again a nice elegant Foursquare bottling for a long time. This time I only got one bottle for a split, which makes me a little regretful. As usual, every Foursquare ECS bottling is of a high standard with very few exceptions. That's why this one doesn't really stand out, but that still makes it a very good rum for me personally.

Overall a slightly above average FS, which is perhaps weaker in the aroma, but creamier in the taste (also in comparison with other FS ECS)

#5016 31.12.2024 A nice little rum after dinner now waiting for the big fireworks at midnight. Nose Light wood, sweet, round, fruits, light berries, light pineapple, spice. Palate Oily, wood, faint smoke, fruity, sweet, spice, dried fruit, light chocolate, light cherry. Finish Medium to long, wood, light roasted, fruits, light pineapple, spice, light tannins, light plum. The empty glass has light leather, raisin and light cinnamon.

Un beau nez : coco, boisé, rôti, des baies comme les groseilles, le piment. Une bouche sur la coco, le chocolat, le beurre, les raisins secs. C’est gourmand.

This is a great rum, it falls in that vein of Raspberry menthol cough syrup, but not as intense as others in that flavor vein that Ive had. Nevertheless, this is a great and tasty rum

Overall it’s a weak ECS for me. Undoubtably still a good run but find it really uninspiring and have now tried it a number of times and just doesn’t hit the mark for me. Nose is light with coconut and a bit of meaty bacon. The mouth is soft with a backbone of bitterness, coffee and overall less plump sweetness and caramel than most ECS offerings. The finish is long but a tad flat and one dimensional with an ultimate metallic edge. One of my least favourite Foursquares