Foursquare Fidelitas: the tenth release from the collaboration between Luca Gargano and Richard Seale

8 luglio 2025

Twenty years of rum, loyalty and savoir-faire.

Fidelitas is the name of the latest release from Foursquare: the tenth chapter in the enduring partnership between Luca Gargano, a legendary figure in the rum world and president of Velier, and Richard Seale, the visionary distiller behind Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. A collaboration that began in 2016, built on a shared vision of transparency, authenticity, and quality in the world of rum - with the primary aim of restoring rum to its rightful status and securing it a level of respect equal to that of the great European spirits.

The intellectual and philosophical synergy between the two has led to a series of co-bottlings, beginning with Foursquare 2006, which played a key role in elevating the distillery’s global reputation.

In his book, Nomad among the barrels, Luca Gargano recalls his first encounter with Richard Seale:

“Richard Seale – owner of Foursquare Distillery and heir to a long line of renowned Barbadian blenders and rum merchants — had opened a major distillery in the Caribbean in 1996, just as many others were gradually closing down - he came across my rum classification and asked if he could use it in his seminars around the world.

I gave him my permission, and that marked the beginning of a deep mutual understanding, one that would only grow stronger with time.”

Foursquare Fidelitas

Marking the tenth release in the series, this single blended rum is the result of rums distilled in 2004 using copper double retort pot stills and Coffey column stills - a combination that defines the unmistakable style of Foursquare.

After distillation, the rums matured in a tropical climate for a total of 20 years: 19 years in ex-Bourbon casks followed by one year of finishing in ex-Marsala casks, which lend the profile a softer, more enveloping final touch. This is the oldest Foursquare rum ever released to date.

The nose opens with rich aromas of toasted dried fruits — hazelnut and almond — and sweet spices like cinnamon and vanilla. A hint of candied orange peel adds freshness and depth.

On the palate, the rum is smooth and well-balanced, offering notes of toasted coconut, fine woods and a light nuance of tonka bean. The ripe dark fruits evoke the sensations of an old rhum agricole, while a slight oiliness ensures a silky texture.

The finish is long, spicy and indulgent, with traces of black pepper, nutmeg and a warm note reminiscent of oven-baked pastries.

Produced in a limited edition of 2160 bottles and bottled at barrel proof (55%), Foursquare Fidelitas is a rum that doesn’t need gimmicks to stand out: just time, patience and the craftsmanship of those who created it.