For the 22nd release in Foursquare’s Exceptional Cask Series, the distillery teamed up with the esteemed Camus house to finish its rum in Cognac barrels. Two batches of rum were used for the marriage, the first aged in ex-Bourbon casks for five years with an additional nine years in French oak ex-Cognac barrels. The second batch was aged twelve years in ex-Bourbon and an additional two in the ex-Cognac barrels. While the process was the same for both rums, the time variations created completely different expressions that were then expertly married by Foursquare’s team.

More importantly, the rums were aged on Barbados in the tropical climate (rather than a European warehouse) and the richness achieved from those conditions is clear from the first sip. Tropical fruits abound on the nose with Bananas Foster front and center. The palate has more of that richness, but it’s married with an earthy, leathery note that should have cigar smokers running to their humidor for the perfect pairing. The finish turns into stone fruit and spice with hints of coconut from the American oak. The XXII clocks in at 61% ABV, so it packs quite a punch; so much so that you’ll need multiple glasses to truly unlock and comprehend its complexity.