Country: Barbados
ABV: 62%
Cost at Time of Purchase: $75
Type of Rum: Single Blended Rum
– B * (See End)
Exceptional Cask Selection (ECS) XIX (19) from Foursquare Distillery in Barbados is a 14yo rum, blended in November 2021, as Barbados was becoming a republic, hence the name. It is a blend of single (ex-Bourbon) and double matured (ex-Bourbon for three years, then ex-Oloroso Sherry for 11 years) rums.
And of course, as should be the case for all Barbados rums – no additives and 100% aged in Barbados!
Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection XIX Sovereignty is a
Single Blended Rum:
A blend of pot still and traditional column still.
Tasting Notes:
Deep bronze colour with coppery hues on the surface.
In the glass, aromas of dried fruits developing to sweeter, more tropical fruits, ripe bananas and a hint of citrus. High-octane from the 62% ABV, so using my Neat glass helps to discover dark chocolate and spicy oak.
Smooth, subtle fruits on the front of the palate. Sweet espresso coffee and dark chocolate combine leading to bitterness from liquorice and star anise. Full bodied texture in the mid-palate where the ABV and spiced oak develop further. More dark chocolate and powerful oak to the rear of the mouth. A long finish with a growing warmth and peppered spice. The more you sip the greater the levels of astringency and the more intense and pleasurable the experience becomes. There is an underlying sweetness, almost like a salted caramel but you need to get beyond the high ABV to notice this.
One or two drops of water opens this up nicely giving rise to more fruit and oak complexity alongside walnuts.
Total Mark: 90 (Out of 100)
Overall:
Plenty of oomph from the high ABV and well worth experimenting with one or two drops of water to enjoy Sovereignty more. This is a less fruit-driven and more high-power oak and spice than some Foursquare ECS releases, but nevertheless, Richard Seale has once again nailed this one superbly.
Value: 10/10
Flavour Profile:
Links / Notes:
Following a recent visit to Barbados, I was fortunate to visit Foursquare distillery and also bring back Sovereignty (Thank you Gayle Seale). It should be available soon to buy in the UK, although expect it to be tough to find and as always, the secondary market will be full of them.
It has been a while since my last post – sorry. Life is now much more organised for me now and so reviews will be more regular. In between holidays and trips to distilleries of course! Since my last post, I have visited Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Tenerife, Gibraltar and Ibiza, hence the lack of reviews, but I will improve on that going forwards.
My intention is for the reviews to be briefer and more succinct. Please let me know if you prefer this!
Thank you for reading and for your support.
Review No: 170
*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.
RumShopBoy.com 
Glad you are back on the keyboard, Simon! Have missed your contributions to Rum-world.
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Thank you Paul – that is very kind. As an unpaid hobby, sometimes the rum writing has to come second (or third) in life. Hopefully, not too often going forwards!
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Hi Simon
Good to see you back with a Michael awaited new review.
I do enjoy the longer reviews so dont be too succinct😅
Best regards from Copenhagen
Tino
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Hello Tino,
Many thanks for your kind words.
Best wishes.
Simon
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Much awaited😅 not Michael awaited
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