BARBADOS FS 2006 Navy TCRL

Nose : voluptuous, tasty. Very finely woody (vanilla, oak), the initial nose is also floral (lilac, hyacinth), spicy (cinnamon, ginger), liquorice-scented and fruity (cider apple). Upon airing, it becomes hot (paprika) and headier than ever (lily, iris). Limes sit comfortably next to lime blossom honey and dark chocolate.

Palate : lively yet smooth. Sugar cane takes over the palate while spices and chillies burst on to the gustatory stage. Aromatic herbs (chervil, oregano), orange blossom and cocoa beans lend the mid-palate a sense of soothing peacefulness. The back of the palate is dizzyingly gourmand (Poire belle Hélène, prune flan).

Overall : long, silky. Fruit skin tannins (Mirabelle plum, pear, apple) are the perfect description of its soft, textured feel. Its exotic character gradually becomes more intense (mango, persimmon, pomegranate). While edging its way towards sugar cane, the retro-nasal olfaction is very slightly camphoric. The empty glass is at once heady and sweet.