The very first collaboration between Foursquare Distillery and Velier, Richard Seale and Luca Gargano.
Molasses based, pot and column still blend, aged for 3 years in ex-Bourbon casks and further matured for 6 more years in ex-Cognac casks all in the tropical climate of Barbados. Bottled at 62% ABV with a limited number of 2400 bottles, with no additives. Long gone from the market, but lets review my sample.
On the nose the Cognac cask maturation isn’t very apparent at the beginning. Vanilla, charred oak, sour cherry pie, tobacco and red ripe apples. Spicy with nutmeg, ginger and some cinnamon. Agave syrup, red grapes, raisins, hints of strawberries, orange zest and peaches. Very fruity and oaky.
On the palate it’s very rich and intense. Starts dry and woody and ends up being fruity and spicy. Vanilla again, chewy oak, tobacco, old leather with a sweet fortified wine note. Prunes, raisins, blackcurrant, black tea, cherry jam, marmalade, grapefruit. Nutmeg and cinnamon again with a subtle herbaceous aroma. A nice dark chocolate note lingering around. Finish is long with oak spices, hints of smoke and maple syrup.
Conclusion: Amazing stuff, it’s really interesting to see what the Foursquare-Velier collaborations started with (I’m fairly new on the rum scene). That said by today’s standards and given the amount of exceptional Foursquare releases I’d say this doesn’t surpass the likes of Empery or 2007. Obviously at the time of the release (2016 if I’m not mistaken) it was one of the best Foursquares and it is a great dram, but we have been spoiled lately.
Foursquare 2006 – Velier score:
Flavour/taste: 57/70
Value for money: 12/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 84/100
Cheers!