Ardbeg 'Supernova' (58.9%, OB, advanced Committee release, 2009)
Colour: pale gold.
Nose: it is more peaty, ashy and tarry for sure, with also very big notes of fresh walnuts and various other grassy and earthy notes such as gentian roots, wet earth, fresh mushrooms, moss… Quite some coffee as well. Big, big smoky, ashy and sooty notes that, quite funnily, give it fino-like touches (flor, ‘nose of yellow’). Not exactly ‘extreme’ so far, but most certainly sootier than a regular young Ardbeg and in that sense it’s closer to our benchmark 1974 than the Ar1. With water: now it noses almost exactly like the Ar1, with not much noticeable differences. Maybe added hints of pencil lead/shavings and even more soot. Yes, even deeper into a coal stove
. Mouth (neat): right, there were rather obvious differences on the (undiluted) nose but it’s not the case on the palate, these two whiskies being very similar at this point. This one is maybe just a tad grassier again, but other that that it’s another big, phat, rich, concentrated and extremely liquoricy peat monster. It seems that the extra-45ppm are more noticeable on the nose. With water: all the ‘tarry smokiness’ went to the back and the front has more sweetness, on dried apples again.
Finish: long, ‘oystery’ again but with more pepper, more ‘good’ rubber and more liquorice plus just hints of bitter oranges. Extremely present in the aftertaste, the latter being rather similar to the much older 1974's. “Like if you had swallowed a pair of rubber boots” said a friend the other day about another Islayer.
Comments: well, this IS peatier but it’s not a different planet. Let’s simply quote the famous guitarist Nigel Tufnel (of Spinal Tap fame): “This one goes to eleven - whilst regular Ardbegs may go to ten.” Very excellent young peat monster nonetheless – and I mean it. A little more complexity may have propelled it to 90. Oh, and it's very drinkable!
SGP: 269- 89 points.
M'a l'air trés bon ce supernova :D
