Looking for a rum produced by a family company that respects traditional methods? Then look no further. Foursquare is a family-owned distillery that has been masterfully managed by the Seale family since it was first founded in the 19th century. The distillery is located on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. The story goes that in 1883 Reginald Leon Seale decided to learn the art of rum blending. He then created his first company in 1926, lending his initials to the business name, R.L. Seale & Co. At the time, Barbados could not market its own rum, which was instead sold to bottlers and other independent brands. The distillery was handed from father to son, until Foursquare was built in 1996 on the site of the former sugar refinery and distillery of the same name. Rums are produced at the distillery from diluted molasses, and fermented with South African yeasts. Foursquare quickly established a strong reputation for its ex-bourbon cask maturations.

This bottling is part of a series created by La Maison du Whisky and Velier, comprising a Hampden 5 year old, a Foursquare 16 year old, a Saint James 15 year old and a Mount Gay 14 year old. Each bottling is illustrated with a photo from Elliott Erwitt, who has been a member of the Magnum agency since 1953. The Foursquare distillery in Barbados has recently achieved legendary status for its old and limited bottlings. This 16 year old is probably one of the oldest ever sold. It is a blend of rums distilled in pot and column stills and aged for 16 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Foursquare’’s trademark balance is of course present, alongside a wonderful combination of power and softness. The photo on the label was taken in Hiroshima at the Peace Memorial Park in 1970.