Famille Ricci Volt Face No2 Jamaïque-Barbade

Volt Face No. 2 pairs the power of Jamaica with the roundness of Barbados in a Famille Ricci blend bottled unsweetened at 66.4 percent. It is a cask-strength release for experienced drinkers, built to show how two contrasting island styles can balance one another at full proof.

The Jamaican share brings punchy, ester-rich roasted pineapple and tropical fruit, while the Barbados component lends a chocolate-and-nut oak backbone and a measure of sweetness, the two knitting into an expressive, fruit-forward whole that grows more intense across the palate. There is real length here, finishing on chocolate, roast and coffee. The strength is considerable, so most will tame it with a little water, after which the fruit blooms. For value-minded drinkers who enjoy high-proof island blends, it is a generous, characterful pour.