Hope everyone is having a good start of the year! I’m starting off strong with some rum distilled at Foursquare Distillery (Barbados) that was bottled by The Good Spirits Co. (Glasgow).
The Good Spirits Co. is a Glasgow based specialist drink retailer that was founded in 2011. They have three branches in the city and it looks like sometimes they bottle their own stuff such like this 16 year old single cask Foursquare.
About Foursquare, they are a very well known distillery from Barbados that releases limited edition bottlings every year, most of them under the Exceptional Cask Selection banner. They also produce rum for their core ranges such as Doorly’s, R.L. Seale’s and their collaboration with with Bailey Prior, Real McCoy. If you’re in any sort of rum circle there’s a chance you’ve heard about at least one of them.
I really enjoy the packaging, as many have pointed out it’s somehow reminiscent of the Foursquare Velier Destino 70th Anniversary due to the colour patterns on the label, but I think it’s different enough to stand out as its own branding.
The Good Spirits Co. Foursquare Barbados 2006 is molasses based, pot and column still distilled and aged for 16 years, most likely in an ex-Bourbon cask. Bottled at 57% ABV without any additions and with a limited number of 296 bottles, mine being number 76.
On the nose it smells fruity and woody. Black cherry jam, red apples, fig jam and prunes. Raisins, cacao nibs and cinnamon. It smells dark, yet fruity and very approachable. Stout, treacle, black pepper and blackberries. A touch of passion fruit and cloves as well.
On the palate the oak influence comes out even more. Charred oak, red apples, cinnamon, treacle and caramel. Allspice, dark chocolate, passion fruit and nail varnish. Feels more intense that most independent bottlings, usually due to their lack of tropical ageing. Banana flambe, peach and stout. Pomegranate molasses and maraschino cherry. The finish is long with oak spices and stone fruits.
This is a great Foursquare and a great way to kick off 2023. Complex, woody and fruity, it’s on the same level as their Exceptional Cask Selection and at £75 (The Good Spirits Co.) for a bottle I’d say it’s quite a bargain.
The Good Spirits Co. – Foursquare Barbados 2006 score:
Flavour/taste: 59/70
Value for money: 15/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 89/100
Cheers!