Release No. 43, a 22 Year Old Barbados Rum created by Richard Seale, marks The Last Drop’s first Rum Signature Creation and brings a landmark Foursquare release to its collection of remarkable aged spirits

LONDON (OCTOBER 2026) – The Last Drop Distillers, curators of the world’s most remarkable spirits, unveils Release No. 43: The Last Drop 22 Year Old Barbados Rum, marking the brand’s first rum Signature Creation and the oldest rum ever released by Foursquare Distillery. Created by celebrated Foursquare Distillery Owner and Distiller Richard Seale, a founding member of The Last Drop Assembly, the release brings together one of rum’s most revered producers with The Last Drop’s pursuit of exceptional aged spirits. More than two decades of maturation, generations of Barbados rum-making tradition and Seale’s exacting approach come together in an expression of remarkable depth, balance and vitality.

Since its inception, The Last Drop has sought spirits defined not by category or label, but by the distinctive balance of age, character and enduring vitality. Each release must stand on the quality of the liquid itself, whether discovered in a forgotten cask or created through the expertise of The Last Drop Assembly.  

Release No. 43 is a significant new chapter for The Last Drop Assembly, the collective of leading spirits makers established by The Last Drop to champion collaboration and innovation across the global spirits landscape. A founding member of The Assembly and fourth-generation rum producer, Seale has helped establish Foursquare as a global benchmark for authentic Barbados rum and uncompromising quality.

“I had this 2004 blend in mind for The Last Drop from the earliest days of my involvement with The Last Drop Assembly. It was a rum we believed would reward time, moving through a second cask before a final three years in very old Port pipes. By 2025, it had become something exceptional,” said Richard Seale, Owner & Distiller, Foursquare Distillery.  “The Assembly is about bringing individual makers’ perspectives into The Last Drop, and for me that meant sharing a rum that reflects how we think about maturation at Foursquare: deliberately, patiently and with the cask always serving the spirit.”

That balance of heritage and innovation is central to Seale’s work at Foursquare. The distillery sits on the historic Foursquare estate in St. Philip, Barbados, a site with centuries of sugar, molasses and rum-making history. Under Seale’s stewardship, traditional methods have been paired with modern technical precision, including the adaptation of the classic double-retort pot still to operate under vacuum.

“Richard represents exactly what we hoped The Assembly would make possible: giving great spirits makers the freedom to create something singular, regardless of category,” says Kizito Owusu-Sarfo, Brand Director of World Aged Spirits. “Release No. 43 is a remarkable example of that – a rum shaped by Richard’s vision and unmistakably rooted in Barbados. For collectors, it is exactly what The Last Drop should represent: extraordinary liquid, true provenance and a story that could only come from the maker behind it.”

A RUM OF DEPTH, VITALITY AND DISTINCTION

Deep mahogany in color, Release No. 43 opens with layers of marzipan, fresh grapefruit zest, ripe plum and tropical guava, lifted by a hint of black liquorice. The palate is fresh and generous, moving through dried mint and eucalyptus into ripe pineapple, tart redcurrant, treacle and baking spice, before dry tobacco leaf and clove carry through the finish. The result is a complex, lively rum whose maturity never comes at the expense of energy.

Bottled at 106 proof (53.0% ABV), Release No. 43 is limited to just 566 bottles worldwide and was bottled by hand at Foursquare in St. Philip, Barbados in April 2026. Presented in a handcrafted wooden case, each 700ml bottle is individually numbered and bears the signature of its creator, Richard Seale, alongside a certificate of bottling verifying its authenticity. A 50ml miniature allows collectors to experience the rum before deciding when to open the full bottle, while an accompanying tasting book tells the story of Release No. 43 and provides space to record personal impressions.

The Last Drop Release No. 43 Signature Creation 22 Year Old Barbados Rum will be released in limited quantities via retailers, bars and restaurants as of October 2026 at a suggested retail price of £1,200. A limited supply will also be available through Legacy de Forge, a global platform powered by Blockbar for purchasing some of the world’s most coveted bottles (shipping restrictions apply). 

 For more information, please visit https://www.lastdropdistillers.com/.