The 2014 Ardbeg Supernova is billed as the peatiest Ardbeg ever. Traditionally Ardbeg is peated to 55PPM, but the Supernova clocks in at over 100PPM. That’s nearly a 2x dose of peat over the regular releases. However, it doesn’t smell or taste that much peatier than any other Ardbeg. A bit, but not much and that’s because humans have a hard time telling the difference between phenol concentrations after a certain level and the increase has to be drastic for us to register a small perceivable difference.
As interesting as the human olfactory system, our abilities and inabilities are, that’s not exactly what this blog is about. Though I guess to an extent that’s really all this blog is about. It’s about a sensory exploration of one branch of the liquor family tree, but rather than go down the path of whisky existensialism I’d rather talk about the whisky that’s in my glass while writing this. So let’s dig right in to the 2014 Ardbeg Supernova shall we?
2014 Ardbeg Supernova Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Ardbeg
Age: NAS (9 years)
ABV: 55%
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Casks: ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Non-Chill Filtered
Natural Color
Cask Strength
Price: $225+ (auctions / high-end specialty shops)
2014 Ardbeg Supernova Review
EYE
Pear juice
NOSE
Peat, vanilla buttercream frosting, red apples, buttered popcorn and salt water taffy rest against a backdrop of citrus, caramel, spice, muddled fruit and a mild bit of funk. It’s an interesting and nice aroma, but not quite what I was expecting from all of the hype.
PALATE
Peat, grilled fruit, smoked meat, spice, citrus and ash create the foundation for some lighter notes of caramel, vanilla, yogurt covered pretzels and white cheddar to lean against. This is more along the lines of what I was expecting, but still not quite.
FINISH
Long and peaty with notes of fruit, honey and smarties that fades to wood and ash.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance with a round full body and smooth light texture.
OVERALL
Ardbeg Supernova let me down a bit if I’m being totally honest. Yes it is still a good whisky, but with all the hype, history and double the peating I was expecting a monster of a whisky and instead what I got was Krumm. Sure he’s a monster who runs around holding his eyes and scaring kids, but he’s no Godzilla and that’s what the hype lead me to believe was in here. So while I do like it, it’s not the monster I thought it was going to be and that leaves me wishing I didn’t pay as much as I did for this bottle. Though if it were 1/2 that price I’d feel much less inclined to feel that way about its value since it is a tasty whisky.
SCORE: 88/100
