Foursquare Convocation ECS Mark XXVIII 14 Year Rum 750ML

Foursquare Convocation ECS Mark XXVIII 14 Year Rum 750ML is a cask-strength Barbadian molasses rum bottled at 62% ABV after 14 years of maturation. The twenty-eighth release in Foursquare's acclaimed Exceptional Cask Selection series, Convocation stands apart through a three-component blend: rum aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels, rum aged entirely in ex-Madeira casks, and rum that matured sequentially in both—a signature approach from master blender Richard Seale that has earned it a Gold award and a 5-star rating from The Fat Rum Pirate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 62% (124 proof)  |  Origin: Barbados  |  14 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Foursquare Rum Distillery

Production & Heritage

Foursquare Rum Distillery, founded in 1926 in the parish of St. Philip, Barbados, operates under the stewardship of fourth-generation master blender Richard Seale. The distillery produces rum on both a traditional double retort pot still and a twin-column Coffey still, with the resulting distillates blended after aging rather than before—a philosophical distinction Seale draws against conventional "cask finishing." For Convocation, three separate lots of molasses rum were laid down for a full 14 years: one in ex-bourbon barrels, one in ex-Madeira wine casks, and a third that spent time in bourbon followed by Madeira. Seale then married all three components post-maturation to create the final blend, resulting in a spirit whose complexity comes from the full integration of wood character over more than a decade rather than a brief finishing period.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich vanilla and toasted coconut before yielding to fresh berries and pipe tobacco. Deeper exploration reveals bergamot, a subtle oxidative nuttiness, and traces of sultana.

Taste: Full-bodied and dense on entry, with caramelized grapefruit peel and roasted macadamia nuts giving way to blackberry cobbler at mid-palate. The 62% ABV carries remarkable poise, layering cocoa, cinnamon, and sweet plum as it builds. Orange peel and fresh ginger emerge as the bourbon and Madeira components intertwine.

Finish: Long and elegant, with dark chocolate and warm baking spices settling into dried fruit and lingering tobacco. The Madeira influence persists as a subtle dried-grape sweetness that holds well past the final sip.

How to Drink Convocation

At 62% ABV, Convocation rewards patience. Neat in a tulip glass is the primary serve, though a few drops of water will open up the Madeira-driven fruit character without flattening the structure. For those inclined to mix a spirit of this caliber, the rum's intensity handles dilution well in three cocktails: a Rum Old Fashioned, where the cocoa and spice stand up to demerara syrup and bitters; a Jungle Bird, where the grapefruit and berry notes amplify the Campari backbone; and a Dark & Stormy, where the cask strength punches through ginger beer with authority.

Best For

• Gifting a serious rum collector seeking limited Exceptional Cask Selection releases
• Side-by-side comparison tastings with other Foursquare ECS marks
• Anchoring a Barbadian rum flight alongside younger expressions
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a cask-strength pour meant for slow sipping

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Convocation taste like? Convocation delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by dark chocolate, caramelized citrus peel, roasted nuts, and blackberry cobbler, framed by warm baking spices and dried fruit from 14 years of oak maturation.

How does Convocation compare to Foursquare Criterion? Both Convocation and Criterion are Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection releases that incorporate Madeira cask aging. Convocation carries a 14-year age statement at 62% ABV versus Criterion's 10-year age statement at 56% ABV, giving Convocation greater oak depth and higher proof intensity.

Is Convocation good for sipping neat? Absolutely—despite its cask-strength 62% ABV, the 14-year maturation lends a richness and balance that reward neat sipping, though a few drops of water will soften the proof and expand the aromatic range.

Where is Convocation made? Convocation is produced at the Foursquare Rum Distillery in St. Philip, Barbados, one of the Caribbean's most respected independent rum distilleries, operated by the Seale family since 1926.

What foods pair well with Convocation? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and tobacco notes. Grilled stone fruit—such as peaches or plums—echoes the rum's Madeira-driven sweetness. Blue cheese plays off the nuttiness and dried-fruit character. Sticky toffee pudding mirrors the caramel and warm spice. Barbecued pork ribs with a citrus glaze bridges the grapefruit and ginger notes.

What sizes does Convocation come in? Foursquare Convocation ECS Mark XXVIII is available in the standard 750ML bottle format.

Is Convocation worth the price? Convocation positions as an ultra-premium, limited-release expression within the Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection line, which is widely regarded as one of the top aged rum series in the world. Its 14-year age statement, cask-strength bottling, and three-component blending approach place it among the most complex offerings from the distillery.

Why Convocation?

What separates Convocation from the broader rum landscape is Richard Seale's refusal to shortcut maturation. Rather than aging rum in one barrel and finishing it briefly in another, each component here spent the full 14 years in its designated cask before blending—a method that produces integration no quick finish can replicate. The three-component structure (straight bourbon, straight Madeira, and sequential bourbon-to-Madeira) creates a depth of character that earned it a 5-star rating from The Fat Rum Pirate and a Gold award. As the twenty-eighth entry in the Exceptional Cask Selection series, Convocation represents a distillery operating at the height of its craft, and its cask-strength 62% ABV delivers every year of that 14-year maturation without compromise.