Foursquare Penultimus – Exceptional Cask Selection
$91.90
Foursquare Penultimus is the thirtieth release (Mark XXX) in Foursquare’s legendary Exceptional Cask Selection series — and the penultimate chapter before the series closes permanently with Mark XXXI. Distilled in Barbados from a blend of copper double-retort pot still and continuous twin column still rums, aged 15 years across ex-Bourbon and ex-Moscatel casks, bottled at 57% ABV without chill-filtration, added sugar, colour, or flavourings.
- Age: 15 years
- ABV: 57% (114 proof)
- Casks: Ex-Bourbon (10 yr) + Ex-Moscatel Wine (5 yr finish)
- Distillery: Foursquare Rum Distillery, Barbados
- Style: Single Blended Rum — pot still + column still
- Additives: None — no sugar, no colour, no filtration
- Release: December 2025 · Limited edition
What Is the Foursquare Penultimus?
Foursquare Penultimus is the thirtieth release — Mark XXX — in the Exceptional Cask Selection series from Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados, one of the world's most respected premium rum producers. "Penultimus" is Latin for "second to last" — this is the penultimate ECS release before Richard Seale closes the series permanently with Mark XXXI, the Epilogue.
The bottle represents 15 years of maturation across two distinct cask types, distilled from a blend of pot still and column still rums in the traditional Barbados single blended rum style. It is bottled at 57% ABV at natural colour, without chill-filtration, added sugar, colouring, or any flavour additives — in line with the total transparency that has defined every ECS release since the series began.
When Richard Seale announced that Mark XXX and Mark XXXI would close the ECS series permanently, every bottle in every previous Mark became more finite. The Penultimus is not just a great rum — it is a piece of rum history. Once it is gone, it will not return to retail at any price.
Foursquare Rum Distillery: The Producers
Foursquare Rum Distillery was re-established by the Seale family in 1996 on a historic sugar plantation in Saint Philip parish on Barbados's southeastern coast. Distilling operations are directed by Richard Seale — fourth generation of R.L. Seale & Co (established 1926) — who has become the most prominent voice globally for transparent, authentic rum production.
The distillery combines a copper double-retort pot still with a continuous twin-column Coffey still. This combination is the foundation of Foursquare's single blended rum classification — pot still distillate for aromatic weight and complexity, column still for precision and freshness. All ageing, blending, and bottling takes place entirely at the Foursquare site in Barbados. Nothing is sourced from outside the estate.
Barbados's tropical climate drives an estimated 6–8% annual evaporation loss from each barrel — dramatically accelerating the spirit's interaction with oak compared to Scotch or Irish whiskey matured in cooler conditions. A 15-year-old Barbadian rum has had a substantially more intense relationship with its casks than a 15-year-old European whisky.
Maturation and Cask Selection
The Penultimus uses a dual-maturation structure that is unique even within the ECS series — and marks the first time Foursquare has used Spanish Moscatel wine casks in any ECS release.
- Component 1: Rum aged 10 years in ex-Bourbon casks, then finished for a further 5 years in ex-Moscatel wine casks — 15 years total.
- Component 2: Rum aged the full 15 years in ex-Bourbon casks alone — providing the structural backbone.
- Blend: The two components are blended by Richard Seale at Foursquare before bottling at 57% ABV.
- Moscatel casks: This is the first and only ECS release to feature Spanish Moscatel wine casks in its maturation bill.
Tasting Notes
The Exceptional Cask Selection: Context and History
The ECS is Foursquare's marquee limited-release series — widely regarded as the most important ongoing premium rum programme in the world. Each release is hand-selected and blended by Richard Seale and released only when he considers it of exceptional quality. No two releases are the same: over 18 years the series has featured port pipes, zinfandel casks, cognac casks, Madeira pipes, and black muscat, among others.
Who Should Buy the Foursquare Penultimus?
Storage and Serving
- Store upright — rum does not benefit from lying on its side
- Cool, dark location away from direct sunlight
- Avoid temperature fluctuations — consistent cool storage
- Once opened, use a Vacu Vin or inert gas preserver if not finishing within 6 months
- At 57% ABV, the spirit is self-preserving and will maintain character for decades unopened
- Neat first — explore the full 57% character before adding water
- A few drops of still water opens the tropical fruit significantly
- Room temperature — no ice on first pour
- A whisky glass (Glencairn or tulip) concentrates the nose better than a tumbler
- Avoid mixing — this bottle deserves to be drunk as it is
Foursquare is one of the rum industry's most vocal advocates against added sugar and flavourings. The Penultimus contains zero added sugar, zero added colour, and zero flavour additives. Any sweetness you detect on the palate comes entirely from the ex-bourbon and ex-Moscatel cask maturation — the natural by-product of 15 years of oak contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
The nose delivers dark chocolate, black tea, Medjool dates, baking spice, and a floral lift from the Moscatel casks. On the palate: golden melon, ripe pineapple, caramel, plum, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and layered — lemon sherbet, green grape, and warming spice. Complex, balanced, and exceptional at 57% ABV.
No. Foursquare adds no sugar, colour, or flavourings to any of its rums. The Penultimus contains zero additives. Any sweetness on the palate is entirely from the 15 years of ex-bourbon and ex-Moscatel cask maturation — natural oak-derived sugars, not added dosage. This is a serious, dry-style premium rum.
Penultimus is Latin for "second to last" or "last, but one." Richard Seale named it to signal that this is the penultimate release in the Exceptional Cask Selection series. Mark XXXI, the Epilogue, will be the final release — after which the ECS series closes permanently. No further ECS releases will be made.
Moscatel (or Muscatel) casks previously held Moscatel wine — a sweet, aromatic wine made from Muscat grapes, produced primarily in Spain and Portugal. The casks impart floral, citrus, and dried fruit characteristics to the spirit during maturation. The Penultimus is the first ECS release ever to use Moscatel casks, making it unique within the entire series.
Neat first, at room temperature, in a tulip or Glencairn glass. Explore the full 57% character before adding water. A few drops of still water opens the tropical fruit significantly and softens the spice. Avoid ice on first pour — it closes the nose. Do not mix: this is a sipping rum designed to be appreciated as it is.
Only one: Mark XXXI, the Epilogue. Richard Seale has confirmed the Epilogue will be the final Exceptional Cask Selection release. After that, the series closes permanently. The Penultimus and Epilogue are therefore the last two opportunities to buy a current ECS release at retail price.
Shop Whisky Online stocks the Foursquare Penultimus ECS Mark XXX with worldwide delivery. All bottles are securely packed for international transit. Stock is limited and will not be replenished once sold through — ECS releases do not return to retail once the allocation is exhausted.
Explore Further
Our full review with detailed tasting notes, ECS context, and collector verdict.
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