Foursquare : Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV Foursquare

Tasting

Appearance

In the glass, Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV shows an orange-brown hue, the sole result of its fourteen years of tropical ageing in ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks, with no added colouring. Its rather low viscosity hints at a rich, intense palate despite this apparent fluidity.

Nose

The nose is indulgent and complex, dominated by a bouquet of red and black fruits: strawberry syrup, black cherry, cranberries and blackberries mingle with notes of blackcurrant and plum. Pastry-like touches of shortcrust, vanilla and caramel soften the whole, while dark chocolate, figs and subtle hints of forest floor and mushrooms add depth and complexity. Touches of toasted nuts and coconut complete this bouquet, a signature of the ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks.

Palate

On the palate, the attack is surprisingly soft for a rum bottled at 61% ABV, before a woody, spicy structure asserts itself: toasted oak, coconut, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove frame a rich palette of red and black fruits, plums, figs and cranberries, lifted by notes of red wine and a hint of black pepper. The finish, long and warming, extends this fruity and spicy register, with a return of strawberry, vanilla, oak and cranberries.

Pairings and Tasting Occasions

Redoubtable lends itself above all to contemplative sipping, at the end of a meal or during sessions devoted to exceptional rums. Based on its aromatic profile, it pairs well with dark chocolate or red fruit desserts, a fig or plum tart, or a spiced dessert such as gingerbread. It is ideally served at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass that concentrates the aromas, and can be enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to reveal its full complexity.

Mixology

Given its rarity, its price and the richness of its aromatic profile, Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV is above all a rum intended for neat sipping. We recommend savouring it without embellishment, in order to fully appreciate the complexity brought by its fourteen years of tropical ageing in ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks.

An Exceptional Barbadian Rum, Intense and Woody, Signature of the Foursquare Distillery

Foursquare, the Family-Owned Benchmark Distillery of Barbadian Rum

Founded in 1995 by the Seale family on the site of a former sugar plantation in the parish of Saint Philip, Barbados, the Foursquare distillery continues the legacy of R.L. Seale & Co, a family business established in 1926. Today led by Sir David Seale and his son Richard Seale, master distiller and master blender, Foursquare is the only Rum distillery in Barbados that remains fully owned by Barbadian interests. It combines double retort pot stills with a Coffey column still operating under vacuum to craft molasses-based “single blended” rums, aged in a tropical climate, with no added sugar, colouring or flavouring. Internationally acclaimed, notably by the IWSC, Foursquare also stands out for its environmental commitment, with a major solar installation and a circular approach to resource management.

Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV, the Pinnacle of the Exceptional Cask Selection Range

Redoubtable Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XV Rum belongs to Foursquare's prestigious Exceptional Cask Selection range, launched in 2008 to showcase the very best the distillery can produce. This molasses-based rum is crafted from distillates derived from both traditional pot still and Coffey column, blended before undergoing a full fourteen years of ageing in a tropical climate in Barbados. Two distinct lots matured separately, one in ex-bourbon casks, the other in ex-Madeira casks, before being brought together in a final blend created at the distillery. Bottled at cask strength, at 61% ABV, without chill filtration, added sugar or colouring, Redoubtable illustrates the philosophy of transparency that defines the entire Exceptional Cask Selection range, of which it represents a limited edition split between Europe and the United States, particularly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors. Its reputation was further strengthened when it was named Supreme Champion Spirit in 2021, confirming Redoubtable's place among the most accomplished cuvées ever produced by Foursquare. Combining the rigour of the traditional Barbadian style with the richness imparted by Madeira casks, this expression follows in the line of the series' emblematic Marks.