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Bardstown Bourbon Collaborative Series Foursquare Barbados Rum was a highly anticipated whiskey for me. I love finished whiskey complexity, especially when the base whiskey is excellent.
This Foursquare Barbados Rum finished whiskey contains 90% of 7-year-old rye from Indiana. I'm assuming MGP sourced. However, the mash bill is not the typical 95/5 mash bill. This whiskey is MGP's "other" mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. This rye whiskey is combined with 10% 17-year-old "bourbon" from Tennessee with 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley mash bill. Most likely Dickel whiskey.
I have to qualify something concerning Dickel. I love Dickel as a blending agent. In fact, I use it in some of my blends. However, I am not a fan of it as a Straight Whiskey.
According to the Bardstown Bourbon Company, this Collaborative Series Foursquare Barbados Rum finished whiskey is designed to beautifully accentuate Barbados flavor by being patiently aged for 23 months in Foursquare Rum barrels on the top floor of rickhouse G. This creates a lower liquid volume due to increased evaporation, but ultimately yields a concentrated, magnificent expression that bursts with Barbados flavor. Let's see if that's the case in this Bardstown Bourbon Collaborative Series Foursquare Barbados Rum review.
Rating: 77
| Nose |
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| Palate |
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| Finish |
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| Uniqueness |
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| Value |
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Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale.
- 90-100 Exceptional
- 80-89 Very Good
- 70-79 Average
- 60-69 Below Average
- 50-60 Drain Pour
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Detailed Tasting Notes
Nose Review - Rating: 78
I was disenchanted immediately by the nose. When I open a bottle, I eagerly anticipate that strong gust as the aroma fights to escape. Unfortunately, this bottle did not have an enthusiastic nose. All of the notes are gentle. Bardstown Bourbon Collaborative Series Foursquare Barbados Rum begins with mild rye spice, chocolate, nuttiness, and ethanol. With whiskey at this point price point, I am stunned by the level of ethanol in the nose. The smell is underwhelming, with mild notes of oak, dark raisins, and cherry. The aroma has a level of creaminess, but again, ethanol overpowers it.
Palate Review - Rating: 78
The palate is very tannic and sharp, even at only 107 proof. This is not the smoothest whiskey. I got the same sensation when I opened the bottle two weeks before this review, so I let it sit to see if it would open up or if my palate was off that day. It has stayed the same.
You must let your saliva work with this whiskey to extract more complex notes. Delicate brown sugar, oak, clove, and pepper. I am saddened that the rum influence is minimal. In fact, I have to work to discern that this is finished in a rum cask. There's only slight oiliness to the mouthfeel. It's thin for a whiskey at this price point. The flavors are frail, the nose is weak, and ethanol is the chief characteristic. I hope my expectations aren't impacting this review, but I hoped it would taste like Discovery 9 with a FourSquare rum finish. Of course, it doesn't since Discovery 9 is an entirely different blend.
Finish Review - Rating: 81
The warm finish combines black pepper, woody oak, dark raisins, and subtle molasses.
Uniqueness Review - Rating: 76
While there is some complexity if you work at it, there's nothing unique or exciting about this finished whiskey.
Value Review - Rating: 69
$160 for 7 year MGP is crazy expensive. As a result, I expected greatness from this.
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Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
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