OLD BROTHERS - FWI - Foursquare West Indies - 47.1%
The passionate owners of the renowned Foursquare distillery, the Seale family, established their roots in Barbados as early as the 1650s, giving rise to five generations of rum experts since 1820. However, the iconic creation of the Foursquare brand came much later. While this family could claim one of the oldest trading houses in Barbados, Reginald Leon Seale was prohibited, like all other merchants, from selling rum directly to consumers due to strict excise legislation in Barbados. To circumvent this obstacle, he innovated by creating a distribution company based in Bridgetown in the 1900s—thus giving birth to the R. L. Seale brand. This strategy was synonymous with prosperity and allowed significant expansion; between 1962 and 1993, renowned rums such as those from ESA Field and Alleyne Arthur, including Old Brigand, Taylor's Falernum, and Doorly, were integrated into the portfolio.
This historical momentum continued until 1995, when the company, under the visionary leadership of Sir David Seale, invested in purchasing an old sugar refinery, whose oldest construction dates back to 1636, although partially dilapidated. Thanks to this bold decision, the site was transformed into Foursquare Distillery, now recognized as one of the most efficient and technologically advanced rum distilleries in the global market. The modern facility notably includes a highly automated bottling line, ensuring uncompromising quality.
The distillery benefits from unique expertise, relying on a three-column still to produce exceptional light rums, and a contemporary pot still for fuller-bodied rums, always made from molasses fermented in small batches (about 112 barrels). These rums are aged under tropical climate in small American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, carefully stored in large open-walled warehouses. The majority of these barrels come from a famous but discreet distillery located in Lynchburg, Tennessee, thus ensuring optimal maturation and an unparalleled aromatic profile.
