Review: Foursquare Mark XI “Sagacity” Single Blended Rum

Final fall, Chris reviewed the aptly named Redoutable from Foursquare, a 14-year-old bruiser of a rum comprised of the distillery’s pot and column distillates aged in ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks and bottled at a really wholesome cask proof. It seems that an earlier, youthful model of this similar rum hit our shores in late 2019, albeit at a way more approachable abv. That providing, dubbed Sagacity, was the eleventh launch within the Distinctive Cask Collection (therefore the Mark XI on the label). Whereas it’s a mix of 12-year-old shares aged in the identical ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks, it’s nonetheless unclear if the ultimate combine in the end mirrored its overproof successor. Both method, let’s see how this one stacks up.

The distinctiveness of the Madeira-aged element remains to be readily obvious on the nostril, however these vibrant, ripe wine notes are much less pushy at a decrease proof, discovering extra steadiness with the normal toasted sugar and tropical fruit of the Bajan rum. Notes of darkish berry jam and raspberry candies have a creamy vanilla edge that reveals extra candied pineapple and Bananas Foster because it opens within the glass. That is a lot much less of a shock to the senses with loads of basic rum components that serve to enhance and elevate the distinctive Madeira element.

The palate is equally balanced with darkish, nearly tart, notes of oxidized wine delivered in equal measure with oak-driven spice, sticky darkish vanilla bean, and orange oil. I can’t shake a comparability to Grand Marnier, however with out the heavy, syrupy character. Baking spice and citrus notes offers this one appreciable vitality right into a prolonged, warming end that showcases café au lait, fruitcake, and a powdery brown sugar sweetness. Distinctive stuff. If this is similar DNA as Redoutable, only a bit youthful, I’m stunned that Foursquare opted for cask power with that launch. This proof, at the least for this rum, appears to have all of the octane it wants.

96 proof.

A / $70 / altamarbrands.com [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Foursquare Mark XI “Sagacity” Single Blended Rum

$70

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Ranking

9.5/10

About Publish Writer

Drew Beard

Drew Beard is Assistant Editor and Social Media Supervisor for Drinkhacker. He has studied and written about beer, whisk(e)y, and different spirits since he first began consuming them, incomes a number of booze-related benefit badges alongside the best way, together with Licensed Specialist in Spirits and Govt Bourbon Steward. A recovering Federal authorities worker, he’s completely happy to have lastly discovered a profession the place it’s acceptable to drink on the job.