Foursquare Exceptional Cask 2009 Aged Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XVII
2009 Single Blended Rum

60%
$95
Website
Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection XVII 2009 2009 12yr 60%

What the Producer/Retailer Says

Foursquare Rum Distillery is located on a former sugar plantation that dates back to approximately 1720, within the tiny Caribbean island of Barbados. The distillery was re-opened by the Seale family in 1996, distilling operations and blending are currently directed by Richard Seale, 4th Generation Trader/Distiller of R.L. Seale & Co.

Exceptional Cask Selections represent the unique, and rare offerings of Foursquare Rum Distillery that Richard has hand selected – his personal projects only released when he feels they are of exceptional quality. These are one of a kind expressions, available only for a limited time, and showcasing truly unique approaches to both Rum blending and maturation.

Barbados- Mark XVII from Foursquare Rum Distillery. A single blended rum, aged for 12-years in Ex-Bourbon casks. No color, sugar, additives, or filtration. Rich and assertive character with notes of dark cherries, cranberry, orange peel, caramelized pineapple, and dried peach.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Coconut, almonds, confectionary cotton candy, mango, dried fruit, vanilla, cocoa and floral.
Palate:  Warm and sweet, vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, cinnamon pastry, bit of ginger ale and sour fruit notes.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with vanilla.
Comments: This nose is just amazing; so different from anything I’ve nosed (my brain immediately thought “OMG – this is Almond Joy in a glass!”) The palate is very nice, but this is one of those pours where I enjoyed the nosing more than the tasting – although the tasting ain’t bad either.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Ron Navazos Palazzi Cask Strength Rum Oloroso Casks

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Ron Navazos Palazzi Cask Strength Rum
Oloroso Casks

51% / 51.5% ABV*
$100
Website
Rum Navazos Palazzi Rum Cask Strength Oloroso Casks

What the Producer Says

* Note that there were two releases of this, in July 2013 and July 2014; not sure which my sample came from.
Rum Cask Strength Oloroso Casks.
Bottled July 2013 & 2014. 1500 bot (each year)
A PM Spirits exclusivity.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Molasses, dark fruit notes, plums, raisins, brown sugar, burnt crème brulée with a hint of nylon rope.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with fruitcake, raisins, plums, apricots, caramel, toffee and vanilla.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with dark fruit.
Comments: First I apologize for not knowing the exact provenance of this particular sample I’m reviewing (the two vintages could be wildly different, although the only distinction made by the producer is the year and ever-so-slight difference in proof). First world problems to be sure, and given this was released 10+ years ago – chances of finding this in the wild are fairly low (but sharing the review in case you’re at a friend’s house and you spot it, eh!).
I’m not a big rum guy, but DAMN! This is just delicious! A bit of water didn’t change it too much, amps the dark fruit on the nose. Just lovely – the sherry cask on the nose is very ‘scotch-like’, and if more rum I tried was anything like this, I’d be getting into rum a lot more.

Rating: Must Try

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Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

54.2% ABV
$110-$120
Website
Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 95 Proof Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Retailer Says

A 15-year-old Glenfarclas single malt, matured in ex-sherry casks and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. Aromas of spiced sponge cake, dried fruit, Danish pastries, green apples and custard fill the nose, followed on the palate by notes of apple jam, plump raisins, sticky dates, baking spices and brown sugar that linger in the finish.

Tasting Notes (courtesy of Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange)
Nose: Sultana-and-raisin-studded spiced sponge cake, dusted with brown sugar and a touch of nutmeg. Danish pastries and tarte Tatin follow, along with freshly sliced green apples and custard.
Palate: Apple jam and Eccles cakes – sticky raisins, brown sugar and sweet pastry. Brighter sultana fruitiness develops, contrasting against rich dates and baking spices.
Finish: Dark brown sugar and raisins linger. Old polished oak and soft spice builds.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, hint of spent matches, oak, earthy mineral note.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, raisins, cherries, brown sugar, cloves, pepper spice, caramel and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderate to long, drying with fruit notes.
Comments:  I haven’t been a huge fan of Glenfarcalas, which for me that spent matches/sulfur note can be overwhelming sometimes. Don’t get me wrong – this has that same note on the nose, but it isn’t as prominent. I prefer this dram with a bit of water, which brightens the nose and brings the fruit notes out more (raisins and maybe grilled peaches), as well as thickens the mouthfeel which is surprising given how thick it is neat. It also brings out more cream fruit with baked pears. Definitely in my top tier of Glenfarcalas offerings!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Glen Garioch 31 Year Old Angus Thanes Series Macbeth Act One

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glen Garioch 31 Year Old Angus Thanes Series Macbeth Act One
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

54.6% ABV
$930-$1,000
Website
Glen Garioch 31 Year Old Angus Thanes Series Macbeth Act One Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Retailer Says

One of 12 noble malts chosen to represent the Thanes in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. This vatting of four first-fill bourbon barrels is a fantastic example of rich, weighty 1990s Glen Garioch. More than three decades in American oak has created a concentrated and full-bodied dram with satisfying notes of panettone, candied peel, and banana.

The whiskies for this series were chosen by Elixir Distillers based on character profiles created by spirits writer Dave Broom. Each bottling features artwork from celebrated illustrator Sir Quentin Blake.

Tasting Notes (courtesy of Joe Rogers, The Whisky Exchange)
Nose: Candied peel, white grapes and kiwis. After those fruity notes comes a much richer side with panettone, dried apricots and golden syrup
Palate: More green fruit, then bananas, cough candy and barley sugars. It’s nicely fat and oily in texture with oat cakes, nutmeg, wildflowers and dry chalky white wines
Finish: Long and stony with a lingering fruitiness
Comment: Brilliantly textural with lots of character. A very enjoyable dram

What Gary Says

Nose:  Light, floral, subtle fruit with peaches, pears and baked apples, honey, heather and a bit of nylon rope.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, honey, vanilla, orange marmalade with peaches, cinnamon and building pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with fruit spice.
Comments:  This is a quite nice dram, and an interesting concept (as a fan of The Bard, I’m curious about the selection but these are mostly priced outside of my reach; thanks to Richard for providing a sample as he graciously does so often!). Very gentle and tasty; a bit of water brings out a bit of smoked pork on the nose, and mutes that pepper spice build on the palate.

Rating: Stands Out

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Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask Signatory The Whisky Exchange
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

58.8% ABV
$335
Website
Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask for TWE Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Signatory

What the Retailer Says

Matured in a single first-fill sherry butt for more than two decades, this 1996 Longmorn single malt was bottled by Signatory Vintage in August 2019, exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s 20th Anniversary.
Bottling Date: August 2019
No of Bottles: 433
Cask Type: First-Fill Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 105100

Tasting Notes (from Billy Abbott)
Nose: To quote a certain anchorman: rich mahogany – both the colour and the first thing out of the glass. There are some leather-bound books as well, but beforehand this dives head-first into a bowl of dried fruit: dates, cherries, prunes and the expected raisins. There’s a touch of barrel-char smokiness behind the fruit, with a spoonful of brown sugar making sure it doesn’t get too much.
Palate: Softer than expected from the nose, but still thick and very rich. Malt loaf with cherry jam; liquorice sticks dipped in brown sugar; toasted schwarzbrot with honey. Clove-heavy speculaas biscuits sit at the back, with bitter liquorice pastels and a touch of charred oak.
Finish: Char and concentrated dried fruit hang around with an ever-changing cast of extras: cinnamon toast, blackcurrant jam, singed cloves and sweet liquorice.
Comment: A bit of a beast, but with more complexity than it has any right after 23 years in an active sherry cask. Endless layers of fruit spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit notes of figs, dates, raisins and cherries, leather, pipe tobacco smoke, oak and raw honey.
Palate:  Thick, viscous and rich with fig, cherry, honey, anise, a bit of cinnamon with cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, walnuts and oak.
Finish:  Long and drying with spiced dates and figs.
Comments:  The words ‘Longmorn’ and ‘Sherry’ combined translate (for me anyways) to ‘happy place’. I have many fond memories of sipping mature sherry-bomb Longmorns on different occasions with whiskey friends, where the dram was improved only by the company (but tasting this one alone – still pretty damned good!) The nose reminds me of sitting in a wood-paneled library full of old books, worn leather furniture and wisps of pipe tobacco in the air (and a rock glass of Scotch, of course). A bit of water brings out a note of blood orange on the nose, and tilts the palate from chocolate towards caramel – but again, this is one I absolutely love neat.

Rating: Must Buy

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