Highland Park Full Volume

The aroma is potent, with abundant smoke on the palate, initially defined by iodine. This gives way to unexpected apricot, followed by significant cereal notes. It offers a profile reminiscent of a blend between Highland Park 18 and Laphroaig 10. Lingering medicinal notes emerge, with a trace of Band-Aids. The herbal notes are subtle but present, leaning towards a dusty character rather than typical decaying, minty, or licorice flavors, though some mint is detectable. It's excellent, though the balance could be improved; it possesses intriguing qualities. The fruit develops to include apples, dates, and raisins, adding to the complexity. The initial iodine dissipates, making the experience more engaging. Meaty undertones appear, bringing with them a hint of almond. Numerous enjoyable flavors emerge, and they are quite well-executed. This is a surprisingly overlooked gem. Why isn't it more highly regarded? An unusual comparison: it's lighter in both flavor and color than Tullibardine Burgundy, yet significantly more complex. It features smoke and peat alongside fresh oranges and apples, with pleasant cereal notes. The flavor is quite restrained with considerable complexity. I'd rate it superior to Glenrothes Whisky Maker's Cut, but not quite at the level of Highland Park 18. The finish is clean and satisfying. A subtle perfumey note is present but not overpowering. The flavor skillfully avoids tasting strongly of alcohol, though a slight, manageable bitterness is present, and it lacks fullness. I consider it better than Springbank 10, though in a similar category. The complexity and skillful execution of its flavors are commendable, but it needs more substance. It's a fantastic sipper that stops just short of world-class status, but it is delightful. It holds up very well against Highland Park The Dark at a much lower cost. The flavor is similarly a bit lacking in body, but it offers more citrus and sea spray instead of cherry and mineral notes (an odd distinction, I know). It's a close call between these two. I might slightly prefer The Dark, but it's difficult to say if that's due to personal bias. This possesses a more pleasing overall flavor than Springbank Hazelburn 13, despite having a lighter and less mature profile. The smoke is balanced by grass, though it doesn't exhibit wet wood characteristics. Some nice fruit adds sweetness, though the caramel sweetness leans towards the immature side. In this aspect, it's somewhat like a more aged Westward. The iodine from the peat is certainly noticeable. Tobacco (with herbal elements) and vanilla come through along with pleasant tangerine. There's a hint of grass, but it's not overwhelming. This resembles a peated Irish whiskey without the off-flavors and with greater lightness. In some ways, it seems like an enhanced Green Spot (though it clearly carries that balanced Highland Park profile. The balance is good despite its light character. While complexity isn't excessive, the distinct flavors transition smoothly. It's likely not as good value as Springbank 10, but it is quite enjoyable nonetheless. It's also somewhat comparable to a more complex and balanced Johnnie Walker. This is truly excellent.

Seventeen Highland Parks, wow. My lowest rating is 2.75 out of 5, and I usually score around 3.8 out of 5. I think I really need to declare loudly that Highland Park is excellent (ignoring the hype). Yelling it out. See what I did there. A brilliant start. This might be one of Highland Park's most distinctive spirits. Instead of the usual mix of bourbon and sherry casks; Full Volume is aged only in first-fill bourbon barrels. They claimed this "boosted the volume on those fantastic creamy bourbon notes." Nose: A bit waxy. Vanilla and rich depths mingle with malt, creating a bakery/pastry sensation. A faint mineral note adds a more subtle character with citrus peel and wood spice. The light peat acts as a nice background that drifts through but it might be missing the typical HP herbal-floral character you'd anticipate. The nose is simple, but it's sufficient. Palate: Intriguing. It's like the nose but with a slightly energetic buzz. Some mildly sweet smoke notes emerge then quickly shift to a bit of spicy heat. Vanilla cream is the core element connecting the energy, and among it all, there's toasted malt, a touch of brown sugar, coconut, stone fruit, and some herbal-bbq notes carried by the peat smoke. Finish: Medium. The malt is most prominent here, becoming quite dry and woody, perhaps leaning a bit toward coconut, and possibly even charred pineapple. Full Volume. An interesting marketing approach from HP, moving away from the usual viking imagery. When I picked this up, I thought of Spinal Tap and turning the volume up to 11. I expected someone to crash through the wall like the Kool Aid Man and attack me with an electric guitar. I was mistaken. This felt uninspired. HP usually has a remarkable subtlety and a powerful hold on you when done well; not so much here. Instead, despite a clean and straightforward nose, and a slightly buzzy palate, the rest was bland by HP's usual standards. I'm not sure if the 17-year age statement and safe/uninspired profile are due to using up stock or a failed experiment, but this isn't HP, and it's certainly not what you'd expect for 17 years, especially compared to the 17 Light and (Magical) Dark editions. Unfortunately, the best of HP, the heathery peat, is just a pale imitation of its usual strength, and the richness from the typical sherry casks is significantly lacking. This is Highland Park turned down to an inoffensive 5, not a full volume 11. A whisky tasting note #199 [Seen here with another rock, as is now standard for HP. This is a cordierite-bearing pegmatite from Risør in Southern Norway. Little is known about this location, with its exact position closely guarded. The rock, as best as I can determine, is the result of very high-grade metamorphism where partial melting occurred, creating coarse-grained igneous pegmatites. The rock is mainly quartz and plagioclase but contains beautiful sky-blue cordierite crystals. Lovely] HP Running ranking: 10: 3.75 12: 4 15: 4.25 18: 4.75 25: 4.75 Valknut: 4.25 Valkyrie: 4.25 Valfather: 4 Dragon Legend: 3.25 Voyage of the Raven: 3.5 Spirit of the Bear: 3.25 Loyalty of the Wolf: 2.75 Wings of the Eagle: 4 The Light: 4.25 The Dark: 5 Mjolner: 4.5 Full Volume: 3.25

I sampled this at a liquor exhibition some time ago and recalled liking it. This prompted the acquisition. Highland Park frequently faces criticism for releasing pricey No Age Statement expressions without hesitation. It's gratifying to see them offer a well-aged malt at a sensible price. Let's begin. Nose: Mild peat and sulfur. It carries a smoky and spicy profile, with notes of cinnamon and black pepper. Vanilla and honey provide some rounding. A layer of citrus from lime, lemon, and orange is present. Lime is particularly prominent. There's also a subtle hint of grilled pineapple. It’s malty and grassy. It’s surprisingly gentle considering the alcohol content (47.2% ABV). The nose is good, but not exceptional. Palate: Significantly more vibrant than the nose indicated. A surge of brine and sea salt complements a pleasant hit of peat smoke. Apple and pear interact well with the lime, lemon, and orange. The combination of orchard and citrus fruits is excellent here. Cinnamon and black pepper carry through. The bourbon cask contributes vanilla and caramel. It has a malty character with a touch of custard. It's oaky, as one might expect from a malt aged 17 (perhaps 18?) years. A solid palate. Finish: Peat smoke, brine, sea salt, cinnamon, and black pepper. It has the classic Highland Park character of black bean and red pepper chili. Lemon and lime are strongly present, especially the latter. Caramel and vanilla are also detected. The overall effect is a moderate finish, leaning towards long. A pleasant conclusion. Kudos to Highland Park for this release. While I know it didn't receive rave reviews, I consider it a great value. The nose is unremarkable, but the palate and finish compensate. A Highland Park expression aged entirely in bourbon casks? An interesting experiment, given the solid overall product. A respectable alcohol percentage. Aged 17+ years. Priced under $100 (I purchased it for $90.) This offering satisfies many criteria. Furthermore, the liquid itself tastes quite good. My opinion seems to be in the minority, so it's advisable to research before purchasing. However, I believe they have done a commendable job. For fans of Highland Park, this is a must-buy. It's intriguing to observe their capabilities without the influence of sherry casks. The outcome is one of my preferred Highland Park releases to date.

While I can't confirm if it reaches a level of 11, at 47.2% ABV, I anticipate this spirit will make its presence known quite distinctly. This could very well be the sole Highland Park I've encountered that lacks any sherry influence. I'd need to re-examine some of the non-age-statement bottlings, but my recollection is they all incorporated at least a touch of sherry. Recent disappointing reviews prompted me to revisit this bottle, which is sadly diminishing. The opaque black bottle makes it difficult to gauge the remaining quantity, but that's the way it is. Nose: Predominantly fruity esters layered over vanilla, accompanied by earthier, peaty undertones. Palate: The initial impression is a classic bourbon cask influence, featuring sweet vanilla malt. This evolves into a more traditional Highland Park character, with notes of oak and smoke, alongside savory, meaty malt flavors. The peat is present but not overwhelming, revealing nuanced oak, a hint of sourness, and sea salt. Considering its price point of around $100, and seeing it available for $60-$70 on sale, this is an exceptional value for the quality of the whisky. While I'm sure those exclusive bottlings with special wood cask aging are impressive, this expression presents a formidable challenge for them to surpass in terms of value. 3 stars. Remember, my typical rating is 2.0. A 3.0 signifies a very good and substantial score, reserved for whiskies that truly warrant seeking out for discerning enthusiasts. If you enjoy bourbon barrel finishes and appreciate Highland Park's malt profile, this is a highly recommended purchase. However, it's not reaching the absolute top tier or anything extraordinary.

You know I'm a fan of Highland Park, and I was excited to try this one because the entire marketing approach is very "Rock and Roll." The name is Full Volume, and the whisky's packaging is shaped like a Guitar Amp. Distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2017, it was matured in first-fill bourbon casks. Bottled at 47.4% ABV. On the nose, there's grassy young peat, vanilla, hay, some citrus like lemongrass. Sulphuric. Dim chocolate, almost imperceptible; very peaty, young peat, and some saltiness. After the first sip, I detected vanilla cream and quince. On the palate, it's not very good. Vanilla. Sulphur, Pepper. It feels very young; raw, very raw. The aftertaste is nice. Hay, perfumed peat, ashes, Pepper. Very aromatic and also "Scorching." My conclusion: this was very disappointing. The nose and aftertaste weren't too bad, but the palate is very raw, and overall it feels like a very one-dimensional whisky. It's not bad, but it's also not enjoyable. My score for it is 79 out of 100, and considering I always give high scores to whiskies, you should believe this is one to avoid. Move along, nothing to see here.

Whiskey extravaganza #7 This is the best Highland Park I’ve had in some time, and I'm surprised by it. This is not a typical HP - it's only matured in bourbon, bottled at 47.2% instead of 43%, and it's chill filtered, but only down to 4 degrees Celsius, so HP has only removed a portion of the delicious oils and esters. Should someone confront their marketing department for calling this “full volume” when they've clearly reduced its natural intensity - yes, that is justifiable. And referencing Spinal Tap on your packaging by pointing the dial to 11 when you've actually served the whiskey at an 8 - not cool... not cool at all. But it's still superior to most of the disappointing releases HP has put out recently. It's brimming with rich vanilla bean, pear, and smoked caramel. It reminds me of Tomatin's Cu Bocan line. And this is 17+ years old for $85; that's a bargain by HP standards. If you find it, purchase it while you can because I suspect it won't be available again. But destroy the box - disgraceful HP marketing, truly disgraceful.