Aroma visualization from community tastings
Foursquare ECS XXIII Covenant 2005
Wood lovers are the real audience here — at 18 tropical years, this Foursquare leans hard into oak, tannin and toasted barrel, with coconut, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit underneath. Several tasters call out honey and milk chocolate, and the 58% sits well integrated. A couple find the cask almost too dominant, and it's less complex than the age suggests.
The community says- Well-integrated 58%
- Long warm finish
- But: Wood-forward
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The look inside the bottle
How does Foursquare ECS XXIII Covenant 2005 taste?
Aggregated from 109 community reviews.
Oaky, dry 18-year Foursquare sipper Most find it a well-made, oaky sipper where the long tropical aging shows clearly. The recurring catch: strong cask influence and less complexity than 18 years might promise.
People who love heavy oak and long-aged Barbados rum
Anyone put off by strong tannins or wanting bold complexity
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
47 of 109 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
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One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
Velier Foursquare Raconteur 2006
8.8/10185 €
More intense
Foursquare ECS XXVIII Convocation 2010
8.7/10107 €
Similar rating, cheaper
Foursquare ECS XXI 2010
8.5/1087 €First choice: 48 of 58 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Foursquare ECS XXIII Covenant 2005 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.5 sits in the “Very good” band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
97% rate it 8 or higher. 38 selected write-ups from 109 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Most helpful positive review
22.03.2025 Retasting at Whisky Watcher tasting. ---------------------- #4654 10.03.2024 Relaxing at bit at home while my wife is out with a friend. Nose Wood, light roasted, light coconut, dried fruit, faint glue, balanced. Palate Wood, roasted, spicy, medium dry, tannins, faint chocolate, dried fruit, light cherry. Finish Long and warm, wood, plum, spice, light chocolate. The empty glass has some light leather and caramel notes.
Review by Banana Joe
Most helpful mixed review
Scored worst in comparison with the 2011 and the Mystique. Alcohol not very well integrated, therefore a little too sharp. The wood influence and the tannins are too strong for me. Overall not as round as the other two.
Review by Dr.Django
Heute gibt es zwei Foursquare: 1. Covenant: Der schmeckt so, wie es aussieht. Viele dunkle Früchte, etwas ledrig und trocken am Gaumen. Der Fasseinfluss ist sehr stark, fast schon zu stark. Man muss wissen woraus man sich einlässt ind wenn man es mag, wird man hier nicht enttäuscht. Der Alkohol ist super eingebunden. Leckerer Foursquare, bei dem ich mir vorstellen könnte hin und wieder richtig Lust drauf zu haben! 2. Absolutio: Geiles Teil! Von den Aromen wird man hier auch keine Überraschungen an Nase oder Gaumen entdecken. Mundfüllend, startet seidig und zum Abgang hin angenehm ölig. Angenehm (trocken) holzig und schokoladig-fruchtig, tolle Balance. Der Abgang ist sehr lang und bietet ein Wechselspiel zwischen getrockneten in Schokolade gehüllten Früchten und Holz. Die Rums mit diesen lamgen tollen Abgängen mag ich ganz besonders und das macht diesen Rum für mich aus! Herrlich, jetzt heißt es: "Hunters must hunt" Vielen Dank an Schnubbii!
Review by Jakob
Schöner Foursquare mit durchaus breitem Aromenspektrum. Tolle Grundsüsse, frische Fruchtnoten, dezenter Tabak, Karamell, Schokolade. Am Gaumen tolle, ölige Viskosität. Auch der Alkohol sticht nicht über Gebühr. Alles in Allem für mich ein bemerkenswertes Release in der ECS-Serie, das hohe Alter funktioniert sehr gut.
Review by Johannes
Die lange tropische Reifung hat ihm wirklich gut getan. Schöne Milchschokolade, Kokos, geht schon fast in Richtung Belize. Wenn er jetzt noch ein reiner pot wäre…
Review by Joachim Guger
Sehr gute Nase. Typisches Fourquare-Profil, Fokus auf Karamell, zurückhaltendes Holz bzw. Würze. Heller Tabak. Tolles Mundgefühl, chremig, kräftig, sehr würzig. Der Abgang ist super, wärmt gut. Man muss jetzt nicht jedem Fourquare Release nachlaufen, aber will man einen schönen, sehr guten Sipper, liegt man hier richtig. Handwerklich top. Dank nach Bonn!!
Review by zabo
Verkostet auf der Pueblo del Ron Nürnberg 2024. Überrascht gewesen, das man ihn schon auf der Messe probieren und sogar kaufen konnte. So ganz abgeholt hat er mich im ersten Augenblick noch nicht, deshalb werde ich ihn morgen nochmal mit etwas mehr Ruhe und Zeit im Glas probieren. Irgendwie finde ich hat er kleine Fehlnote. Deshalb erstmal etwas weiter unten eingeordnet. Edit: nochmal in Ruhe daheim probiert. Irgendwas finde ich störend. Besser als der Indelible, der mir zu dünn war, aber es gibt weit aus bessere ECS.
Review by Basti
Hat an der Nase fast ein wenig eines tropisch gereiften Diamond. Klebstoff, getr. Früchte, Gewürze, Kokosnuss und eine angenehme Süße. Gefällt mir richtig gut. Am Gaumen jede Menge Gewürze, Holz und eine Bitterkeit, die auch im Abgang vorhanden ist. Bin gespannt auf einen direkten Vergleich mit dem Isonomy.
Review by Beancheese
Tried alongside Foursquare ECS 2009 XVII. Both are classic Foursquare offerings and along the lines of what you would expect. This one has a honey nose, along with some fruit, some spice and mild glue notes. On the palate this one is much smoother and more balanced - lacking the intensity of Covenant. Oak, spice and a nice viscous mouthfeel, this is a pleasant rum from Foursquare.
Review by mto75
mit 18 Jahren die längste Fassreife aus der ECS Reihe, die ich bisher verkostet habe (der Shibbo brachte es nur auf 16 Jahre). An der Nase irgendwie leicht säuerlich, wie Sanddorn, dazu ordentlich Gerbstoffe vom Fass, ein wenig gelbe Früchte und Karamellpudding. Am Gaumen getoastetes Fass, Tabak, Milchkaffee, Malz. Sortiere ich im oberen Drittel der ECSs ein. Der Sovereignty, Shibbo und Redoutable rangieren aber auf jeden Fall höher.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Sehr sehr leckerer Foursquare, rund und süffig. Ungewöhnlich floral und blumig dezent nach Sandelholz, Honig, Rose & Lychee, fruchtig nach Mango, Rosinen und Dörrpflaumen, würzig nach Milchschokolade, Karamell und scharfem Ingwer. Sehr vollmundig und ungewöhnlich Komplex. Endlich Mal ein etwas anderer Foursquare!
Review by Tim
Der älteste Foursquare aus der ECS-Serie, sogar ein Jahr älter als Isonomy, der mir leider zum Vergleich nicht mehr vorliegt. Dieser Rum weist die Merkmale einer langen Lagerung auf: Eichenholz, Leder, Gewürze, Trockenfrüchte. Nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht außerordentlich gut. Sprich, solider FS-Rum.
Review by Serge
Verkostet auf der Village in Nürnberg. Ordentlicher Foursquare. Ich habe in der Nase Assoziationen mit eingelegten Grünen Pfefferkörnern. Passt gut zum würzig pfeffrigen Profil am Gaumen. Aber insgesamt nicht so mein feel good Foursquare.
Review by Timo Groeger
First impression, immediately coconut on the nose. Over time, vanilla and caramel are added. On the palate it is very spicy, some wood is recognizable, but also vanilla and caramel again.
Review by SaibotZtar
Wieder einmal eine sehr typischer Foursquare Nase ... Kokosnuss, Schokolade Vanille, Karamell und etwas Rosine leicht Florale Blütennote. Am Gaumen keine Überraschungen.. solide wie so oft aber irgendwie schon sehr ähnlich zu den meisten Foursquare Abfüllungen... auch im Mund Schokolade etwas Kokosnuss Vanille, etwas Rosine und Karamell.
Review by Rum Watcher
Sweet & spicy... probably describes it best. The age does it good, otherwise the spiciness and yet very caramelly sweetness would clash too much. The alcohol is very well integrated. Perhaps not the most complex Foursqare of all time, but very tasty. Cheers
Review by Steffmaus🇩🇰
After a long day of digging out for a fireplace in a garden, it's time for something I've been waiting for. To date, the oldest Foursquare rum. In the nose it has the Barbados profile of tropical fruits and dried fruits, and in the notes it's very woody, with other notes of chocolate, spice and some tobacco
Review by abaker-rum
At first you get caramel and vanilla on the nose, but once you go deeper you get a very pleasant honey scent. The taste is classic Foursquare with caramel, spice, and vanilla, but an added dryness due to the age. You have a long finish with spices.
Review by Boletus
After 18 years of maturation, it is of course to be expected that the cask has a strong influence on the overall picture. Fortunately, there are not too many bitter substances in play here and the sticky note present immediately after pouring increasingly fades to make room for coconut, vanilla and dried fruit. However, there is an irritating, perfumed aftertaste right from the start, as if I've had a load of hairspray in my open mouth, which I know from many a scotch from the 60s and 70s, but have never had with a rum. This aroma doesn't bother me directly, but I would have liked the Covenant even better without it.
Review by MarcT
Foursquare is a solid rum every time, i have been rarely disappointed by a bottle or sample. This is quite old (18yo tropical) and bourbon casks only, and it shows. Even i get some vanilla, but also lots of wood and some caramel. I got rums in my reviews that are more roasted or have more tannins, and Barbados is always (for me at least) more to the milder side, but it has more cask going than expected.
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
More tame and balanced than most FS. Must be the age. A whiff of acidity. Oaky. Vanilla. American oak/sandal wood. Not so much glue. Roasted coconut. Nice! Taste: more wood. Some prune. Tannins. Bitter. Dry. Burnt sugar. Sweet Bayleaf licorice. Balanced still yet you must love wood. Ps: nobiliairy is prob still my favourite
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
A nice sipper this one. Despite the age the wood is felt but does not become predominant. Well made Foursquare, but doesn't score too high on complexity for me. However I do like the buttery and some sweetness to it. Thanks Schnubbi for the sample.
Review by Martin Švojgr
Well, that's another good performance by Seal.
Review by Shridhar Acharya
It’s a good rum. But it ranks further behind from other ECS that I’ve tried. There’s a certain familiarity that Foursquare ECS brings, this one does that at start. But then it deviates quickly, perhaps more to do with the longest aged rum. Somewhere it feels a little off balance for me personally, can’t quite put my finger on it. Will share my experience with this in a while again
Review by Santo
Le nez de ce rhum est, à mon avis, son atout principal. En bouche, ainsi que dans la finale, il reste classique pour un ECS. La longue maturation semble à peine perceptible, comparée au profil du classique embouteillage de 12 ans. Ce n’est pas vraiment mon préféré.
Review by Nils123
At that age, I would have expected a little more complexity, which is a shame.
Review by ElReyTristan
Gourmet nose, typical of Foursquare, oily, slightly burnt coconut. On the palate, these aromas are repeated with a touch of vanilla and burnt brown sugar. The finish is slightly bitter and chocolatey.
Review by jordanandrsn
Big honey explosion on the palate followed by some barrel influence.
Review by Henry Davies
Ahead of the curve on this one as found in New York. The nose is surprisingly muted, classic foursquare bourbon notes, caramel and wood with a note I can’t quite place and land with litchi. Mouth is more classic, oak is there but does not overpower with some bright spice and tropical fruit soaked in caramel. Finish brings layers of spice with a long and lingering warm edge. It’s good for sure but not as elevated as some of the cask finishes or crisp as the 2008 six years it’s younger sibling to my taste
Review by Jags
My favourite Foursquare rums are the ones aged in Ex-Bourbon casks, period. This 18 yr old rum does not disappoint, simply delicious. At 58% ABV it is so smooth. Another 10/10 from Richard Seale. I had 2 bottles of this and hesitated to open one, now I have to keep an eye out for FS Covenant.
Review by Tyler Griffith
Very warm, woody profile. A hint of fruit as well, fairly long finish.
Review by DutchRumPirate
Heerlijke Foursquare. Bij net in het glas gegoten is de geur sterk geroosterd, houtig en een vleugje zoetigheid, gedroog fruit, caramel. Hoe langer in het glas hoe zoetiger de geur wordt. Het fruit komt dan steeds meer naar voren. Smaak: melk chocolade, gedroogd fruit, Rozijnen. Met houtige tonen. Tannins en medium droog. Droogheid zeker niet overheersend. Hoe langer in de mond hoe meer de houtige tonen naar voren komen. Als ook de geroosterde tonen. Smaak is sterk. Afdronk medium tot lang. En weer die combi van gedroogd fruit en houtig. Vindt hem heerlijk, echt een genieter. Een verwennerij.
Review by nguyen phan
Nose: leather and star anise at first then roasted and oaky, after 5-10 mins there is coconut creamy or caramel. Taste: sweet at initial and turn spicy quickly, roasted fl!vor, tannin from oak, dark chocolate. Powerful alcohol but in the controlled zone. After taste: medium, dry, a little bitterness. Overall: quite good rum but I prefer the previous version Isonomy 17y
Review by TShute
This is oaky but not in a bad way. The finish hangs around for a long time.
Review by Solidfunk
Sweeter than the 2011 12 year, but also spicy. A little more tangerine. White pepper in the finish makes this a hint spicy. Faint vanilla. Golden copper pour.
Review by Ma_Lau
Un bon Foursquare
Review by Kasper
Macy Rom fest 2/11/24. Very spicy and peppery with some delicate green herbal notes. I find a minty and eucalyptus note but also other herbs. Finish in a sweet palate of burnt and candied sugar. Very nice. Complexity 3 of 5. Score 8,5
Review by Pavel Spacek
Not extra strong flavour
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Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 8.8/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by The Secret Rum Bar
Read full review →
Expert review by Rum nagykövet
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Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 105 € – 197 €
from 12 sales, latest 09/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 143 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Foursquare ECS XXIII Covenant 2005
A Pot & Column Still Rum from Barbados, distilled by Foursquare, at 58%.
Community purchases
217 bottles logged by 149 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
10% opened, 3 emptied and repurchased.
What does Foursquare ECS XXIII Covenant 2005 cost?
Community paid 109–179 €.
Current best price: 181.00 € – above the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
217 purchased · 109 tasted · 48 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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