Exceptional Cask Selection XXVIII Convocation

Uiuiui, nice surprise, tested briefly when it pops up here, in contrast to the various Foursquare I had in my glass before and at the GRF, this one stands out positively and surpasses them.

A solid representation of Barbados rum. The nose has caramel, vanilla, wood, tobacco, and dried fruit. The taste is roasted nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, and spices. The finish is long with a pleasant mix of honey and vanilla.

Time to review the newest release from Foursquare. On the nose: After sitting in the glass i get demerera sugar, vanilla, tobacco, caramel and woody notes. On a blind taste i would have guessed that this is a demerera rum or from St.Lucia. Taste: Burnt sugar, caramel and vanilla dominate the profile. You can feel the abv but its somehat nicely integrated to more full body taste. Still quite warm and pleasant on mouthfeel. That trademark balance is also there. Finish: Woody, touch of honey,nutty, roasted, tobacco. Little bit of vanilla. Medium-long finish. Interesting release from Foursquare. I has elements of El Dorado core releases and St.Lucian rums, but the quality of Foursquare is there.

6 Foursquare in blind tasting. There is often talk here of uniformity, but for me this is most true of Foursquare. Some of them are almost indistinguishable on the nose. The differences become clearer on the palate, but everything is still close together. Magisterium, Equidem and Fidelitas are slightly ahead of Sassafras, Triptych and Convocation. The profile of Fidelitas differs somewhat more from the other bottlings mentioned above.

I’m comparing this to Equidem - and to me that’s high praise (currently amongst the best tasting rums I’ve put to my lips so far!) The nose on this is delightful - I’m grinning from ear to ear!! You do get the signature coconut, caramel, burnt sugar and toasted notes but you also smell the presence of the Madeira cask as well - almost doubling down on the caramel side of things with the smallest tinge of nuttiness and dried fruits along with it. On the palate, the Madeira is pushed front and centre to the palate - it doesn’t dominate, it’s just the bourbon barrel part of the blend definitely plays a supporting duet kind of role… Notes of vanilla, cinnamon, burnt sugar, maple syrup alongside the usual Madeira cask notes of sharp yet floral dried fruits…. What’s REALLY apparent is the texture both in smell and taste - it smells and tastes thick, velvety, full bodied, balanced, complex and creamy. An utter delight for me!

Good stuff. The Madeira finish is very well executed. Enhancing on both nose and palate with rich dried fruits. In contrast to some more overpowering finishes in the last releases, I like this very much. Perfectly balanced with the FS base DNA.

I am pleasantly surprised! Ex Bourbon and Madeira harmonize quite perfectly!

Very tasty and well balanced flavors such as chocolate, dried fruit and burnt sugar.

Finishing my second bottle and behind on reviews. I guess I could stop the review at “second bottle” as it speaks for itself. Convocation is bold but really well put together. Oak, vanilla, and dark fruit stand out, with the usual spice keeping it fun. The finish hangs on clean and steady. One of those pours that keeps you reaching back for another sip. I’m going to let it sit for a month and try again.

Not an ultimate revelation and I find it very similar to Redoutable. Certainly good and at a high level, as we know it from Foursquare ECS. However, without an infinitely round component, which often comes with a Madeira finish. Too bad, there would have been a little more room for improvement.

Positive first impression. Delicious Foursquare, the Madeira finish discreetly complements the classic profile.

Sehr schöne Abfüllung von Foursquare, die sich positiv gegenüber anderen abhebt und eigene Noten mitbringt. Grundsätzlich hat er eine Menge Foursquare Gene, natürlich. Trockene, rote Früchte, Vanille und Fasseinflüsse und unverkennbare Foursquare Aromen. Aber diese Abfüllung bekommt durch das Madeira Finish hinten raus eine erwachsene, runde Note. Er wirkt am Gaumen sehr seidig, geschmeidig, durch ölige Texturen und ein fast herber Abgang mit Eichen-Aromen und Gewürzen, die an Lebkuchen und Weihnachten erinnern. Bleibt insgesamt allerdings hinter anderen Abfüllungen leicht zurück - dennoch klasse Ausgabe!

As always, very high quality quality ok the FS ECS. Initially rough, spicy, then sweet caramelised. Not the best ECS but still very good!

As much as I dislike Madeira, I really like the finish here. A pleasant surprise.