Highland Park Full Volume

bright and fruity with heather and mild smoke

Nose - Sweet lightly bitter pear cider, light brine, faint salty campfire smoke, light ash, and hints of vanilla. Taste - Sweet salty, lightly smoky pear cider, light white pepper tingle, coconut water, citrus peel pith bitterness, vanilla. Finish - Lingering light saline smoke, fruity fresh pear, white pepper tingle. Score - 85/100 Final Thoughts - This was an interesting one in that it had this nice light salty smoky balance throughout, but it seemed a bit one dimensional other than that. The ex-bourbon cask really does help highlight their base spirit quite a bit. My palate tends to appreciate a light smoke paired with a hint of sherry or port a bit more, so this wasn't exactly my favorite, but it was relatively well balanced. I could see this being used in a cocktail that could utilize the light salty smoke present without a sherry/port sweetness like a penicillin or even a blood and sand. I wouldn't turn down a dram of this, but wouldn't order it at a bar nor buy a full bottle myself.