The Duchess Foursquare 2005

Bottled by The Duchess, this is a single cask Foursquare from 2005, the dry, additive-free Barbados rum from Richard Seale's St Philip distillery, where double-retort pot still is blended with twin-column Coffey rum. Held thirteen years and offered at a full 59%, it is a classic cask-strength expression of the house style.

The molasses spirit, aged in ex-bourbon oak, shows toffee, vanilla, orange peel and burnt sugar on the nose, then a sweet, spicy, honeyed and hot palate, with vanilla, dried fruit, roasted notes and spice on the finish. The naturally sweet impression comes from cask and fruit rather than any dosage, the rum being unsweetened. The first sip lands with the strength of the 59%, then settles into a rich, complex pour with well-integrated alcohol and a generous spice-laden close. A typical, satisfying single cask Foursquare for those who like it strong.