Ardbeg Supernova SN2014 55% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (90)

Colour: white wine (hurray!) Nose: sweet Vishnu, we’re close to the 1975! So much for ‘old’ vs. ‘new’ Ardbeg, I have to say this baby’s well within the same lineage, with a similar peatiness, similar lemons and similar oysters. And ashes, peat smoke and all the rest. Granted, it’s rather less complex, a bit fatter and a notch less crystalline, but that may come from the higher strength, let’s see… With water: they diverge now. This is more brutal and certainly more medicinal. A lot of antiseptic, then pinesap and this mega peat that smells just like… The distillery. I just couldn’t be against that. Love this nose. Mouth (neat): it’s sweeter than the 1975, for sure, with more limoncello for example, but once again, the peatiness and the ashes are similar. Having said that the sharpy spiciness that was in the 1975 is almost absent here, there’s this limoncello instead. With water: this feeling of swallowing a Cuban ashtray at 4 in the morning. An ashtray into which someone would have also poured the remainder of a glass of mojito! Finish: very long and while the ashes and peat remain huge, it tends to become a tad sweeter. Is that the sherry? Comments: love this big Ardbeg. Less complex than the 1975 for sure (that wasn’t hugely complex either), but it’s got ashy style and peaty substance (wot?) Certainly not just a gimmick.

Gal Granov (88)

Nose: Its peaty indeed, but not THAT much as one would expect from the one of the peatiest whiskies out there and the Ardbeg answer to the Octomores… But, it’s interesting no doubt. Rather medicinal with quite a few notes of hospital beddings and bandages, as well as clove, kerosene and aniseed, all layered with a lot, and i mean A LOT of ash and some smoke as well as liquorice candy.

Palate: Dang! a peat heads’ delight : quite sooty at first, with burnt sugar and some fruit. I’ve seen some reviews mentioning exotic fruit, but I don’t really get those myself.. there is indeed some fruitiness here, but it’s mainly cranberries and its in the background. some leather and pepper too

Finish: Long, very very long indeed. with a lot of ash, pepper, burnt sugar and hints of burnt vanilla flan, and traces of sweet marinated bacon.

This is a good young peaty Ardbeg alright. I think its less intense than previous versions, certainly less ashy and sweeter with more fruit and sherry influence,but still it’s HUGE. I guess cutting it at 55% did some of the trick, as previous versions were over 60% abv if i remember right. I still liked it more than the SN2010 since its more approachable and less of an ashtray-like dram.My favourite Ardbeg (current line-up) is still the Uigedail, no doubt. Having said all that, it’s still a brilliant peated dram, and worth trying and drinking if money is not an issue.