As you may know, Fareham Wine Cellar has been supplying the iconic Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection (ECS) since it first became available in the UK. It has now been announced that ECS, a series that has defined modern Bajan rum and set the benchmark for independent and estate bottling alike, has officially come to an end with the last bottling, the Mark XXI Foursquare Epilogue.
For years, the Exceptional Cask Selection has delivered some of the world’s most sought-after rums, from Premise and Nobiliary to Detente and Touchstone. Each release showcases Richard Seale’s mastery of blending pot and column still rums, innovative cask maturations, and an uncompromising commitment to transparency with no added sugar or flavourings.
The exciting new chapter is called the Foursquare Mythical Cities series, and it will serve as the direct successor to the ECS range. The first release will be in 2026 and is inspired by legendary cities that have captured the imagination through myth, folklore and storytelling, the series explores places whose stories have endured for generations, whether rooted in history, legend, or somewhere in between.
Kicking off this brand-new collection will be Mark 1, named Lyonesse [Pronounced LION-ess]
First release
Foursquare Lyonesse 16 Year Old Rum is an exceptional Barbados rum, combining spirits produced using three distinct still configurations at the renowned Foursquare Rum Distillery: double-retort copper pot stills, a copper pot still and twin-column continuous column stills.
The 16-year-old blend comprises three separately matured rums: one aged entirely for 16 years in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks, a second matured for four years in ex-Bourbon casks before spending a further twelve years in old Tawny Port pipes, and a third aged for ten years in ex-Bourbon casks followed by six years in ex-Port casks.
Bottled at a robust 58% ABV, Lyonesse is non-chill-filtered and free from added sweeteners, spirit caramel and other flavouring adjuncts. Entirely produced, blended and bottled at the Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados, it is an authentic expression of the distillery’s commitment to traditional rum-making, exceptional cask maturation and transparency.
The first release takes its name from Lyonesse, a legendary kingdom said to have existed off the coast of Cornwall, between Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly.
According to Arthurian legend, Lyonesse was swallowed by the sea following a catastrophic storm and flood. It is also associated with the stories of King Arthur, Tristan and the final battle between Arthur and Mordred. The choice of Lyonesse gives the series a distinctly British folklore connection.
As stockists of Foursquare Rum, we know just how quickly these limited-edition releases disappear once they land in the UK. With Lyonesse marking the very beginning of a brand-new collectable series, demand is guaranteed to be high.
Foursquare produces rum using two different distillation methods:
Traditional copper pot stills: Produce heavier, richer and more characterful spirit.
Continuous column stills: Produce lighter, cleaner spirit.
A Single Blended Rum combines pot-still and column-still rum produced at the same distillery.
This is one of Foursquare’s defining characteristics. Richard Seale, the distillery’s master distiller and blender, is particularly keen on transparency about production methods and ingredients. Foursquare is also well known for avoiding added sugar, artificial colouring and flavourings in its premium aged rums.
