Foursquare Premise

This smells and tastes a bit like Glenfarclas mixed with Wild Turkey Master's Keep Reserve. It's very leathery with plenty of tannins and some sweet cherry that is under control. There's also some really nice rich chocolate and some caramel that is a bit too light but still nicely sweet. This is a really nice hedonistic drink. This has a big leathery smell like Joseph Magnus or Wild Turkey Master's Keep Revival. There's some smoke and fireworks on the nose too. Disappointingly, those flavors do blend together, but it still smells rich and mature. There's some of that Clynelish waxiness on the nose too. The nose indicates great promise. The palate is indeed rich with that characteristic Joseph Magnus and Glenfarclas 25 flavor, but also some additional sweetness from baking spices (nutmeg and cinnamon most notably, but some tannic clove as well). This is not what I expect from a rum, but I love it. The finish lingers with cocoa and leather, leaving a creaminess alongside the tannin that changes a bit as it goes on. It lasts for days and it's delicious. This is a tremendous find. The balance of sweetness, richness, tannin, and so on is splendid for a rum. Especially at 46%, this is a huge bargain! The complexity is tremendous and it is interesting and rich with flavors that just blow me away. I'm bumping this right up from 18 to 22. Maybe it will drop down to a 20, but it's hard to see it falling below that. Maybe it will be a 23. The ABV suits this perfectly and the price is unbearable. There's some tartness, but it is terifically balanced. Every moment of drinking this is a delight. It doesn't have the fullness of juicy fruit and Sherry presence that Glenfarclas 2t does, but it's really close in terms of richness and sweetness, with a bit more Joseph Magnus to it, along with some rum tropical flavors, a bit of fireworks. The complexity is greater here without doubt and so is the richness. There's a bit of orange on the long finish that is kind of light and slightly odd, but interestingly like a Cognac. It's hard to say that this is anything other than the single best deal in spirits, possibly even for mixing. It doesn't have the same amount of vanilla, tart pop, and smoky kick as Joseph Magnus, which I feel like just means that I'm again declaring it to be right between Joseph Magnus and Glenfarclas 25. It's even right between when it comes to ABV (43%

Doorly’s 12 year was a knockout rum for my palate and being that it is basically Foursquare in disguise I wanted to know what it’s bigger sibling could do. Enter Premise. Double the price but on the lower end of Foursquare cost. Aged 10 years, not 12, but in a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry before being blended together. A quick sip of Doorly’s 12 reminds me just how sweet an unsweetened rum can still be. Plenty of molasses, maple and oak. This on the other hand… The nose is rich and sweet with the same maple and molasses, alongside dried oak and plenty of nutty, rancio notes from the Sherry casks. At first the sherry is overpowering with a copper pennies funk but with a little air it mellows and balance arrives along with a nice cola note. Something tannic remains though that reminds me of Joseph Magnus and Spanish brandy. Light enough with a mess of flavors at first. The rancio dominates but the cola and molasses trickle back in. Finally some bitter walnut, ripe bananas, dash of sea salt and oak come in and for a moment I almost forget the sherry. Still, the classic molasses flavor takes some searching for but is ultimately there, like my son hiding under a blanket - I know he’s there and am impressed he’s so still but springs out with a smile once the jig is up. So… this is interesting. There is so much Sherry influence that I almost wish it was dialed back a bit. The end is rewarding if you are willing to search through the flavors… but it takes some effort. It is something to sip and relax, to take your time with, to contemplate. I’ll leave it at that.

Rum tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, May 9th 2019: Rum #4 Nose: Sweet, lifted dark fruit notes. Very heady and encompassing. A note of varnish (not nail varnish, more like shellac) and some raisins and dates. A dark syrup aroma, some vanilla and banana notes give it a profile not unlike bourbon. Apple cobbler, tobacco, pencil shavings. Excellent! Palate: Surprisingly astringent and dry on the arrival (the casks are more evident than on the nose) with spicy (ginger, sweet chilli, preserved lemon) notes. The development proceeds with the dry theme rather than gathering sweetness and brings forth brown sugar, tropical fruit, grilled bananas, licorice and some cane juice, but there is no sign whatsoever of added sweetening. Finish: Medium/long. The cane-juice character fades into a vanilla aftertaste. The palate is drier than the nose would lead you to imagine, but there is a very rich and full character to this rum. I was not surprised to hear that it was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks for 10 years in an active environment. It has a complexity and depth of body but it is not cloying or syrupy by any means. A dash of water released more ginger spice and grilled banana on both the nose and palate. A very good rum indeed, one of my favourites of the evening, and reasonable value. "Very Good" : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

The nose starts with a mix of slightly soured citrus, overripe banana, fresh cut cucumbers, sherry and butterscotch then chocolate covered dehydrated pineapple followed by fruits of orange marmalade, apple pie filling and cherries jubilee that transitions to damp leaves, nutmeg and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel that starts with a mild tannic spice that quickly fades to a mix of slightly soured citrus, banana bread, fresh cut hay, sherry and butterscotch then chocolate covered dehydrated pineapple followed by fruits of orange creamsicle, McDonalds apple pie and cherries jubilee that transitions to light floral notes of honeysuckle, damp leaves, nutmeg and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate covered pineapple, butterscotch candy, toasted walnuts, cloves, and lightly ashy oak spice. This is a complex easy sipping and well-balanced rum that manages to combine rum, sherry and bourbon flavors very well, but this leans heavy on those sour fruit flavors more than I’d like along with some ashy oak spice. Compared to Nobillary which was all ex-bourbon barrels with 62% ABV, the Premise at 46% ABV seems much thinner and likely could have used a few more percentage to bring richer and bolder flavors. A huge thanks to @ContemplativeFox for the generous sample.

Nose - molasses, honey, overripe banana, hay, herbal notes, vanilla, toffee, walnut, grape, mint, brown sugar, pineapple rind, chocolate chip cookie, nutmeg, allspice, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - molasses, grape, honey, white pepper, brown sugar, vanilla, grass, cherry menthol, clove, allspice, pecan, dark chocolate, pineapple, burnt toast, overripe banana, orange zest, lemon, ginger, moderate alcohol bite finishing medium length with rich molasses, chocolate, baking spice, and dark fruit flavors. The first bonafide Foursquare on my list, and it’s a 10 Year with bourbon and sherry finishing components. The sherry brings additional layers of sweet fruitiness and nuttiness. Aside from the standard molasses, baking spice, and banana, there are aromas of walnut, chocolate chip cookie, and dry pineapple. The palate cuts the same path. Some mentholated cherry sneaks in along with citrus, more nuts, and even some brandied grapes. Overall this is great rum, but it’s not my favorite Foursquare profile. It’s sweeter and lighter than some of the others, verging on sour. Nonetheless, I would very happily sip this any day. A big thank you to @ContemplativeFox for the sample!

My first bottle purchase from this renowned rum producer. I think most love Foursquare for their lack of sugar dosing or additives. I will say it delivers in that regard. I liken it to Balvenie with the clean overall quality of the spirit in general and an elegance and purity that most rums do not possess. Neat nose brings coconut milk, brown sugar, toasted oak and chamois leather. The sherry casks do add a bit of fruit tang. Papaya and tangerine come to mind. Light mouthfeel but good flavors on the palate. More of the tropics with the leather joined by a sweet tobacco leaf, soft caramels and the brown sugar gets melted. The oak checks in and leads to the finish of non drying tannins and mounds bar with the fruit and tobacco lingering in the background. There is a slight hogo presence but its friendly don't worry. This is very good rum and the more expensive offerings with higher proof are even better . Bottom line is Foursquare rum is an easy purchase for anyone who wants to experience the finer side of liquor. Premise is probably not available to most anymore but you cant go wrong with anything from the line.........88/100