Ardbeg Supernova 2010

Ardbeg Supernova was first released in 2009, sporting an ABV of 58.9% and an impressive phenol level of 101ppm. This second edition was launched on 31 May 2010 at an even higher ABV of 60.1% and with the same 101ppm. Ardbeg Supernova 2010 was matured primarily in ex-Bourbon casks for about nine years.

The nose yields salt, brine, smoked bacon, soft and mild smoke as well as some coffee. With water there are lemons and vanilla, along with some grassy notes.

The palate is full-bodied and massive, there is an almost explosive rush of smoke, powerful and very spicy. With water the palate becomes more rounded and astonishingly sweet with hints of orange and lemon, yet it loses nothing of its intensity.

The finish is long and warming. I again detected smoked bacon , some chili and a hint of vanilla. All in all this is a very powerful ending!

This is a very, very impressive malt. It is not what I would drink every day and it took me more than a year to finish my bottle but I relished every second that I spent together with this baby! Interestingly enough the peat on the nose is rather soft and sweet, at any rate much less pronounced than I had expected it to be given the high phenol level. You could call this a restrained peat monster - I loved it!

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