Ardbeg Supernova 2019

The color is pale, typical for this brand. The aroma is quite intense with a lot of smoke and peat, plus some excellent umami, and hints of menthol and pine. Sweetness is still present on the aroma, with plenty of vanilla and a touch of light toffee. The nose alone is delightfully engaging with its complexity and great scents that are nicely balanced, though the menthol and light pine might be divisive (they are interesting, at least). The palate is surprisingly smooth and sweet, with a rounded richness that delivers a lot of smoke before shifting to peat and emphasizing the numbing menthol a bit more. Even at this ABV, it's very smooth but not watery; it's a good kind of smooth. The sweetness has some toffee notes. The flavors mostly arrive and the complexity swirls, though it's generally subtle, about the same as a certain well-known blended whisky in that regard. It tastes very good, definitely better than a specific single malt. There's a lot of chocolate and likely some salted licorice, but fresher than typical dark licorice (perhaps it includes fennel as the bottle suggests). It could use more overt complexity with clearer flavor statements, but in its smooth form, this is a very drinkable spirit with some intriguing notes in the menthol, licorice, and pine categories. It's really good. Oak appears on the finish as the smoke smolders, leaving some wood unburnt, but still touched by the fire. The mouthfeel is moderate, which is appropriate as it's neither so light it seems diluted nor so thick it seems like syrup was added. I won't go to great lengths or expense to acquire this, but it is quite enjoyable. It's sweeter than anticipated, which is rather pleasant, though a bit unusual (I'm not quite sure what to make of it). I've been considering a specific score for a while, but the more I taste it, the more I appreciate the smoothness and balance, even though it lacks the complexity and punch of flavors I truly love. I'm very tempted to raise my score, as I gave another single malt a higher score and I think this is more mature, but I'm not quite ready to commit to that. It's very good, though. Surprisingly, it becomes harsher with water, and the subtleties fade. I don't think it actually warrants that higher score. I'm a fan, just not at the price.

Okay, this will be a different kind of review. For me, Supernova isn't about the taste; it's about the journey the whisky takes you on. That said, let's do a brief review and then I'll explain. To me, the nose is a blend of Ardbeg and Octomore. I get the intensity of the higher alcohol content, clean candied cigarettes, clean malt, and that Ardbeg smoke. The flavor is Ardbeg and Octomore with a lot of extra oak. Yes, there's more to it than that, but that's my impression. Now, for the journey. This starts with a smooth, high ABV, intense, yet inviting nose. The whisky hits the tongue, warming it, adding sweetness and peaty notes. It coats the tongue and heats up, then as you swallow, there's an honest physical explosion on the palate. Suddenly, there's a supernova-like sensation where the heat rises and the flavors completely transform. Your mouth is left with what I'd call an oaky peat, but it's much more complex and frankly unlike anything I can compare it to. Each pour, the journey can take a slightly different path, but it always features this explosive shift in flavors and notes. With each serving, I discover new notes and flavors; honestly, these are some of the most unique earthy, spicy, and Ardbeg-like flavors I know. If you're thinking, 'To hell with refinement, I want hair on my chest, a kick in the groin, and unbridled Ardbeg,' this is undoubtedly the Ardbeg you've been dreaming of. For me, someone who prefers a bit more refinement, someone who loves Ardbeg 23-year-old or a Laphroaig 25, I still really enjoy the punch it delivers. Don't buy this to sit back and contemplate profound works. This is the Ardbeg you drink when you need a wake-up call. I'm not sure it justifies the insane price, which put this near $200 after tax, but I'm sure this is damn good whisky, and no Ardbeg fan will be disappointed with the spirit itself. Score of 3.5, but I'm adding a strong caution: I believe this is priced beyond the reach of 90% of even Ardbeg fans. Therefore, it's a 3.0 if it fits your budget - BUY IT, it's worth a stretch, but I'm not sure it's worth a significant one compared to getting a dram at a bar. I do think every Ardbeg fan should experience this journey; it's truly a unique experience that I'm very glad I had the opportunity for.

FANTASTIC. From start to finish, this was a pour I genuinely liked. I've experienced the 2015 Supernova (the celestial experiment) and it was superb, but this surpasses it. The marketing promised an otherworldly sensory journey, and I believe they absolutely fulfilled it. The 2019 Ardbeg Supernova was one of those no-age-statement releases that spark doubt among whisky enthusiasts, and I'd seen varied opinions on it, but yesterday I tried it, and it proved to be among the most potent yet harmonious peated whiskies I've ever encountered. It's bottled at 53.8% ABV with an amber hue. Upon nosing, from the very first instant, you recognize something extraordinary has landed. Very fresh peat; notes of chocolate, medicine, and bacon make it highly inviting. Then, hints of coffee, plastic, lemon, grapefruit, damp grass, a stagnant pond, and tree resin appear. Following an initial taste, you detect earthy peat, oranges, eucalyptus, fabric softener, dampness, and floral elements. It's wild, captivating, potent, and wonderful. The palate is quite pleasant, offering sweetness and spice, packed with personality. You'll find vanilla, grapefruit, pepper, lemon, lime, chocolate, and butter. The finish is celestial. A magnificent smoky note, unlike any I've encountered in many peated whiskies recently. It's aromatic, peaty, smoky, perfectly briny, with hints of cured ham, smoked ribs, and a pepper explosion. The finish lingers extensively. In summary, everything about it is superb, and there was absolutely ZERO hint of alcohol. For a 53.8% ABV spirit, the level of aroma and flavor is incredibly well-executed, remarkably smooth to drink yet robust and rich. I can't find any reason to deduct points in my scoring rubric, so this one earns a perfect 100/100 from me. Cheers!

Following closely behind Ardbeg’s refined Traigh Bhan is its darker counterpart, a new expression in the intensely peated, no-holds-barred Supernova range. While the exact peat level on the ppm scale isn't detailed, the 2014 edition was so powerful the smoke aroma escaped the bottle. The 2015 version toned down the smoke slightly, favoring a sweeter profile, and that seems to be the model for this release. Undiluted, it’s not nearly as immediately smoky as the previous two releases. It has camphor and lemongrass notes, but it’s quite pleasant and not overly strong for a typical Ardbeg. On the palate, the peat hits hard and coats the sides of the tongue on the first taste. After the numbing sensation fades, a zesty sweetness appears, followed by a gradual descent to a molasses-like finish. A lingering chili spice taste remains for some time. A dash of water truly elevates this spirit from intriguing to outstanding. It's quite a transformation. The smoky aroma intensifies to a refreshing nasal-clearing level, while the mouth-numbing qualities diminish, giving way to a good blend of pepper, sweetness, and zest. It bears some resemblance to certain Octomore bottlings that avoid wine casks, though it doesn't quite reach the heights of that series and carries a higher cost. Nevertheless, I found myself wanting another serving. A welcome arrival.

The aroma is much less smoky than anticipated, but smoke is definitely present. It has a coastal scent, somewhat like a pier. It possesses a sweet, phenolic quality. On the palate, I detect salty smoke, with a tingling brine on the tip of my tongue. The saltiness develops and lingers. The smoke starts dry and becomes sweet. It has a savory taste reminiscent of smoked fish. Notes of dry herbs, sage, pine, thyme. A touch of pepper mixes with the salt. The finish is salty, smoky, and very astringent. I was quite unimpressed, perhaps even disappointed with the initial experience, so I added a drop of water, which I usually avoid even with cask strength spirits. I believe it requires it. The aroma becomes more pungent - aggressive - saltier than smoky, savory smoked pork, maybe a hint of apple. It seems saltier on the tongue, harsher, more raw, like waves crashing on rocks. The sweet phenol persists, but gives way to a savory flavor. I do detect a hint of pineapple - I still get sage, pine needles on the forest floor. The finish is long, like harsh salt spray, pineapple, lingering smoke, blackened charred firewood. At this price, it's competing with the outstanding Octomore, which is a formidable challenge. This is great (with water), but I think Octomore surpasses it.

The scent starts traditionally, with a mild, non-aggressive fleshy and oceanic peat that dissipates, revealing light spice notes (cloves, a hint of pepper), orange, vanilla, lemon zest, and a herbal touch. Ultimately, the aroma is less intensely maritime than expected, mellowed considerably. The taste follows suit, with alcohol that warms without burning. This, combined with an oily and oceanic character, delivers the same sweetness as the aromas, perhaps even smoother and creamier, like vanilla custard, ripe yellow fruit, apple, and orange. Additional spices like cloves and chili pepper appear, along with a savory olive spread. The peat is present, fear not, offering mineral, smoky, and briny notes, but it doesn't dominate. The finish is medium-long, featuring spices, saltiness, abundant orange, and charcoal. This is an unusually subdued and approachable expression, an Ardbeg that might appeal to less traditional drinkers, venturing outside the usual fan base but not entirely alienating them. It's a compromise that, while pleasant, lacks distinct character and conviction. It must be noted that its current market price is completely unreasonable and inflated.