Let’s talk about this “hyped” and much awarded distillery that is capturing the attention of a growing audience of whisky drinkers and liquor collectors these days. What’s the deal with this “Pappy of rum”?

Foursquare is a family owned distillery from Barbados. Despite the massive popularity it’s gained, it’s very much a small family operation with only a couple dozen employees worldwide running the whole show. Very little money is spent on advertising and promotions to keep prices down (the family is a firm believer that great rum should be affordable to everyone) and all acclaims have been earned purely based on the high quality of the products.

Not only is the master distiller/blender Richard Seale a wizard with sugarcane and a barrel, he is a vocal leader advocating for transparency in production and unadulterated rum – rid of sugar, additives, and other flavorings found in many “premium” rums that thwart its perception as a “serious spirit” for connoisseurs.

Although the “exceptional cask series” gets all the attention (they are the experimental limited releases Foursquare puts out each year) and is becoming increasingly hard to find and expensive due to demand increases, there are actually many other fantastic rums made at Foursquare that are admirably affordable and accessible. Try: Doorly’s and R.L. Seale 10 (both exclusive to Total Wine in the US), and The Real McCoy. These have all been staples in my collection.