Distilia Foursquare The Last Cask – Bull, Artist (Yu Chuan) 2006

Distilia bottle this Foursquare single cask from the 2006 vintage in their Last Cask series, drawn from Richard Seale's St Philip distillery in Barbados. At seventeen years and 60.6%, it is classic Foursquare delivered at full power, drier and nuttier than the softer reductions, aimed at experienced drinkers who know the house style.

The pot-and-column spirit was matured in ex-bourbon oak. The nose runs on coconut, vanilla, caramel and a nutty edge, the palate adds chocolate and burnt sugar to the coconut and vanilla core, and the finish stays long and spicy with roasted nuts, dried fruit and more coconut. Added sugar is unconfirmed but the profile reads honestly dry. The strength is well integrated and the character squarely down the Foursquare line, drier and more roasted at cask strength. This is a faithful, well-made Barbados rum that delivers the house profile at full power rather than reinventing it.