Ardbeg – Supernova Committee Release SN2015 (70cl, 54.3%)

Ardbeg – Supernova Committee Release SN2015 is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 54.3% ABV, 70cl. Since its establishment in 1815, The Ardbeg distillery has been on a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of ownership changes, closures, and reopening. Stability was only achieved relatively recently, when the ailing distillery was purchased in 1997 by industry giants, Glenmorangie. The subsequent years have seen the distillery’s popularity swell, with fans enticed by the signature style of tarry, sooty smoke, balanced against citric sweetness and an oily mouthfeel. While Ardbeg still retains its distinctive personality, it has definitely been influenced by Glenmorangie’s propensity for experimenting with cask finishing, and (dare we say it) NAS expressions. Supernova Committee Release SN2015: Already known for being one of the peatier Islay malts, when Ardbeg decided to experiment with upping their peating level, they needed a name that positively bristled with power. What better namesake than Supernova? One of the most powerful, stellar phenomena in the universe! Released in 2015, this Supernova coincided with Dr Bill Lumsden’s report on the infamous experiment to investigate the effects of whisky maturation in micro gravity. While the Supernova doesn’t actually contain any space whisky (turns out, it’s a touch cost prohibitive), it’s still a tasty dram that packs a peaty wallop.