Opened in 2019, The Rum Cartel is a private members’ club based in Singapore that has become a sort of safe haven for those looking to not only taste, but to truly immerse themselves in the rum experience.

The club is well-connected to big wigs in the Caribbean rum scene, and has been arranging for tasting sessions featuring the likes of Richard Seale from Foursquare and Grégory Vernant from Neisson.

Last week, I met the mastermind behind it all, Frederic Langlois. A dedicated rum enthusiast with an impressive collection to boot, Frederic, has created a vibrant community that thrives on the mutual love for rum. His character is just as robust and lively as the spirits he curates, and he's also as laid-back and welcoming as an old friend sharing a bottle from his personal collection. 

The Club occasionally purchases barrels of rums and bottle it under its “Domino” series. The first bottling is an excellent Hampden that is perhaps the most approachable and friendly rum I’ve tasted from the Jamaican funkhouse (our rum writer Weixiang has already reviewed it here).

The second and most recent bottling by the Club is also from another brand name distillery which truly needs no introduction. Under its visionary founder Richard Seale, Foursquare consistently produces high quality and authentic rums that are a testament to Barbados’ history and love for the spirit. The bottle we're discussing today is no different.

This a private Foursquare cask obtained by The Rum Cartel began with 11 years of tropical aging in ex-bourbon American casks, before being transferred to a refill ex-bourbon cask for 6 years of continental aging. It also comes in at a confident 58.7% ABV.

Let’s give it a taste!

Barbados Rum (Foursquare), 11 Year Old, bottled for The Rum Cartel, 58.7% ABV – Review

Nose: Rich, jammy and spirit forward. It's got these bold, dried red fruit notes that are full-bodied and assertive. Reminiscent of dried fruits, think raisins, dried cranberries, and a delightful strawberry compote. Underscoring these fruity notes are deep tones of oak, toffee, butterscotch, and an assortment of baking spices, evoking the comforting warmth of a bakery. There’s an ever-present layer of fresh peppermint and some pepperiness felt on the nose.

Palate: Intense, sumptuous with a velvety texture. The flavours are really full-on, in-your-face intense. Heavy notes of toffee and caramelised nuts, and once again a very dried fruits-forward palate with rich, deep notes of raisins, dried cranberries, and stewed apples. There's also this mix of sweet praline, maraschino cherries, and milk chocolate.

It's sweet, aromatic, and a touch resinous, kind of like biting into a cedar jelly. And just when your tastebuds think they can chill, here comes a wave of spices and warmth. We're talking cinnamon, nutmeg, a touch of cloves, and a pop of hot ginger. Very, very lively.

Finish: The finish doesn't let up, still quite oaky and warm, but the tannins are very smooth, adding a lot of structure. The cinnamon sticks around, and out of left field, there's this hit of mint and camphor in the middle of the tongue. It's strong, it's bold, and there's just a touch of astringency to keep things from getting too predictable.

My thoughts:

This Foursquare from The Rum Cartel is a classic example of what the distillery does best—it's packed with intense flavours that really compliment a thick body. It has this punchy kick that slices through the rich round body, keeping everything really lively.

If I were to visualise these flavours, I would describe this as a ball with spikes, kinda like a medieval morning star or the shape of a COVID virus. Strange comparison, but stick with me here. It's got this rounded, sweet jammy core, right? But then, just when you're getting comfortable, the spice spikes up, breaking the round monotony. It's not just rounding the corners; it's throwing a full-on, lively fiesta to make sure you don't snooze on this party. So, in the grand scheme of things, I’m definitely not forgetting this one in a hurry.

Bottles are exclusively available to members of The Rum Cartel (learn more about their membership here).

@CharsiuCharlie