Foursquare Rum Distillery Redoubtable. The Exceptional Cask Series from Foursquare shows no signs of letting up. This is the XV marque so the 15th release in the series. Which started with relatively little fanfare, with the now much sought after 1998 release. How things have changed.

This particular rum is, according to Richard Seale, the follow up to last years Nobiliary.. As far as the name is concerned Redoubtable means “formidable” or “very strong”.

In terms of the actual rum in the bottle, as with most of the Exceptional Cask Series this a Single Blended Rum. With rum distilled on both and Column stills. It comprises of rum which has been aged for 14 years in ex-Madeira casks and rum which has been aged in ex-bourbon casks.

The rum was bottled in September 2020. Current delays caused by COVID-19 and Brexit, mean stock has yet to reach the UK shores. This in itself would normally be too much of a concern, as we would order from mainland Europe. Sadly with so much confusion over taxes, duties etc many (if not all) European retailers are no longer shipping to the UK.

Foursquare Rum Distillery Redoubtable has been bottled at 61% ABV Cask Strength. The retail price, I think will be around the £70-75 mark. It comes in the updated Foursquare bottles which now include mini Foursquare medals around the “chest” area. With the Foursquare logo on the label around the neck of the bottle. The front label also just notes Foursquare, rather than previously Foursquare Rum Distillery. I’ve stuck with the Rum Distillery part in my reviews. Just to keep things tidy really. It also helps with Google ranking…….

This is the 14th Exceptional Cask Series rum, I have reviewed in the past 4 or so years. I have also reviewed new releases in the Doorly’s range, R.L Seale’s re-boot, Old Brigand (both variants) and The Real McCoy range. So it’s pretty safe that anything I have had to say about Foursquare Rum Distillery and the Seale family, has already been pretty much covered! So at this point I think we best move on to the fun part.

In the glass Foursquare Rum Distillery Redoubtable is a darkish brown with a very noticeable orange hue throughout. It looks considerably darker in the bottle.

The nose is has an initial waft of vanilla and coconut. This moves into some sweet and quite light notes of sherry and some sweet lime juice – its a zesty note but not at all sharp. Pulling this altogether is a warming blanket of oak and a tiny hint of spice.

The nose is well balanced and very inviting…..

Sipped the rum is lighter, drier and more tannic than the nose was suggesting. That said, it is not over oaked or anything. It was just initially, a bit of surprise when compared with the nose.

This rum is definitely a bit “beefier” than the nose might have suggested. The sweeter more sherry like aromas on the nose are replaced. I’m getting more of a kind of red wine vibe now with this.

The initial flavours are of rich dark fruits and yes some red wine. It’s quite spicy with a definite kick of black pepper and some well integrated and nicely balanced oak and wood spice. I’m getting a very slight smokiness to this rum on the mid palate and towards the finish.

In terms of the mid palate it moves into a mixture of dark fruits, tobacco and an almost gooseberry/cranberry like tartness – which I’m actually really enjoying alongside the other notes of raisin and a touch of dark chocolate.

The finish is very easy going (despite the ABV) and it fades out gently with classic Foursquare notes of vanilla, coconut and those wonderfully well balanced notes from the wood. It’s long and very enjoyable.

Once again Foursquare have released another great rum as part of their Exceptional Cask Series.

I will be entirely honest with you all – I am not sure I could even come close to separating all the different rums from the ECS series. Sure. in terms of telling the difference between 2008 and Nobiliary yes I would know. I hope.

However, if you sat me down with the 2004 to 2008 series of ECS (remember to miss out 2006 as that was totally different) releases, I honestly couldn’t. Likewise, no doubt I’ll be asked how this rates against Nobiliary. The simple answer is I really enjoy all these ECS rums. I would recommend every single one of them. I have recommended every single one of them!

Whether I give one a 4.5 or a 5 star score – it’s very fine margins. In terms of the ECS I would advise people who have a collection in tact, to take note of the colour of the rums title on the label.

Those with the same colour are either part of an evolution (as can be seen from the Port Cask to Detente offerings) or are simply rums aged in similar casks.

Yes there are differences between these rums. In some instances they aren’t going to be as dramatic as some might make out. Either that or people simply have palates way superior to mine.

I think mine is probably more in keeping with most peoples. Fair play to those who can detect minor changes etc.

In many ways with the ECS Foursquare are acting more like an Independent bottler in that they are releasing Limited Edition rums, on a regular basis. Back this up with a growing portfolio of continuous releases. Certainly for me this leaves less money in my wallet for Independent bottlings of Foursquare…….

They’re not daft.