Bedford Park Foursquare 2006. Ahhh Fond Memories – Foursquare 2006 that elusive first Velier/Foursquare collaboration. Now as rare as hens teeth and stupidly expensive even if you do find a bottle for sale.

Whether Bedford Park have deliberately released a Foursquare 2006 to “cash in” on the fuss that the original Velier bottle created, I’m not sure.

It’s a bloody good idea though and they certainly aren’t the first to do so.

Today I am reviewing Bedford Park Foursquare 2006 bottled with an ABV of 58.8%. There is another bottling that is slightly stronger at 59.6%. The label is designed by Toronto-based illustrator James Tuer, whose personal work draws inspiration from 80s sci-fi, vintage travel posters and 90s comic book art. This particular bottling is also known as “Pinball” as per the bottle art.

Bedford Park Foursquare 2006 retails at a very reasonable £89.50 which keeps it in line with Foursquare’s own Exceptional Cask Series. The rum, as with nearly all Foursquare releases is a blend of Pot and Column distillates. It was distilled (you guessed it!) in 2006 and was bottled in 2024. So it is coming in at over 17 years old. This rum is from Cask Number 43. The cask is a once used ex-bourbon barrel which has yielded 243 bottles. Which suggests that this rum will have enjoyed some time ageing in the tropics. From what I understand 14 years in the tropics.

If you wish to purchase this rum then it is currently only available here.

I doubt any regular readers (or rum enthusiasts) will require any information regarding Foursquare. If you do there are plenty articles about Foursquare on the site so just search for Foursquare should you require further information. I interviewed Richard Seale some time ago (its not the best interview I must admit I was a little nervous at the time about what to ask).

So without further ado I think I’ll dive in and try this rum………….

In the glass we are presented with a quite dark brown liquid with a reddish/orange hue. Very “rummy” and nothing out of the ordinary.

On the nose there are few surprises either. It’s very Bajan and very Foursquare. The ageing in ex-bourbon barrels make this a rather “straight forward” affair. In terms of the nose we are getting those vanilla ex-bourbon cask notes alongside some cocount and banana. There is a nice balance of oak spices and some hints of leather and tobacco.

As is so often the case with Foursquare this is all very well balanced. Everything on the nose feels right and there is nothing out of place.

Sipped it is, even at full ABV very approachable. If you like this style of rum then this will tick most if not all the boxes for you. Despite it not being 100% Tropically Aged it still has a kind of “thickness” or “concentrated” note that you often find with the longer aged Foursquares or those old Velier Demerara rums.

It’s just more intense – yes thats the word. The aromas on the nosecome through nicely on the sip – with a real weight of oak spice, vanilla and those lovely coconut notes. There’s an oily-ness about it as well – something that just seems to make the experience fell a little richer.

As we move into the mid palate and finish more of the fruity notes come through and I’m starting to get some blackcurrant and a touch of marmalade. Something creamy – maybe a little Custard Tart.

The finish is long and very warming – leather and tobacco with lots of that oak spice.

All in all this is very good stuff and its still available should you wish to get a bottle. I’m a little late to the party with this one so don’t delay. It’s very well priced it todays market!