Ardbeg Hypernova

A hypernova is the stupendously energetic result of a massive star (30 times our Suns mass) collapsing in on itself, forming a rotating black hole and emitting twin astrophysical jets surrounded by an accretion disk and a luminosity that is 10 times greater than that of an entire galaxy. Ardbeg are making a big call with this naming. I am looking for a density and depth of flavour unparalleled and with the ability to eject new flavours and experiences from whisky that leave me blinded by its force. And for AU$399 a bottle I think that would be a reasonable expectation. Let’s find out.. N: Powerful yet restrained. Heavy with salty tar and straw bales. This already reminds me of summers creosoting stable blocks… A lifting brightness of menthol offsets what I thought would be an overwhelming smoke (this is claimed to be Ardbegs smokiest beast). The smoke is interesting, not so much wood smoke, but more chemical fire smoke like petrol, the peaty presence is clear but smoky is a difficult claim to make. Super curious. The longer I sit on this the more I think there may be a delicate floral note. P: Boom. There it is. That is a bit of a monster, oily clingy and laden with liquid smoke whacks you with pepper, a chared beef mixed with a slightly metallic grill pan, almond, aniseed, clove, iodine, salt There is a lot going on here. It’s super dense though and hard to find whats going on. F: Long. Smoke is all encompassing and has an aromatic tobacco quality with a strong pepper bite. A dash of water, now things get interesting. The nose softens and expands into a very subtle wild berry tart fruitiness and the menthol turns to peppermint. The palate calms significantly the brine builds, the fatty meaty bite rounds and loses its metallic undertone, some chocolate creamy texture builds and even introduces a crisp slightly toffee apple freshness with a beautiful waxy lemon rind. The finish doesn’t seem to vary much but the pepper has subsided. Was this stupendous on a galactic scale? No. Was this none the less, huge, complex, energetic, and bursting with everything but the kitchen sink? Yeah, just about. I enjoyed this, a lot, downsides, is it just a little too dense leading to palate exhaustion? Perhaps. I’m not qualified to judge, I’m neither a whisky expert nor an astrophysicist. Also, perhaps their peatiest whisky ever but yhis doesnt come close to the smoke presence of others. As good as this was, I don’t think an AU$400 price tag is warranted when I think a regular Port Charlotte 10 is probably just as good to better. I know Ardbeg die hards will tell me I’m wrong, Distiller whisky taste #227 [Pictured here with another wee beastie a trilobite called Coltraneia oufatenensis, named after the jazz legend John Coltrane. This chap came for Jebel Issomour in Morocco and is about 393-382 million years old. When it comes to the best eyes in the animal kingdom, past or present, trilobites are hard to beat. These eyes are probably the best of the best. The enormous eyes take up approximately half the width of the head suggesting a vital need for excellent vision] Ardbeg running scores: Ardbeg 10: 4.25/5 Wee Beastie: 3/5 Corryvreckan: 4.5/5 An oa: 4/5 Hypernova 2022: 4.25/5

Aroma is all smoke, so heavy it's sharp. I can barely detect anything else. Flavor is a little much. It's less the fun peat and fire of ardbeg and more ashtray and charcoal. Body is fine, whiskey flavors are good , but the smoke is the wrong flavor. More ash than peat. I never thought I'd find an ardbeg too smoky for me but this flavor just isn't hitting.

Ardbeg's 2022 committee release was an exciting one, their "smokiest" expression to this date (allegedly) with 170 ppm of peat, of course we are talking about Hypernova. If you have ever tasted the "Supernova" expressions, you probably know those ones are arguably the best from this Islay Distillery. That is why Hypernova, promised so much. As you might already know, a Supernova is the explosion of a star; while a Hypernova is a greater explosion where the core of a star that became a supernova, crashes into a black hole. Bottled at 51%abv, this has a pale straw color. On the nose, it has a classic Ardbeg note. Mint, taxi air freshener, lime, spicy and some tequila notes. It resembles a lot to an Octomore. Povidone, vaseline, Vick's Vaporub, shoe polish, and an old toy from He-Man and the Masters of the universe.  After a first sip it gave me wet paint. On the palate, it starts with a white chocolate note and then a full herbal note; tea and moss. Red chilli. There is not much on the finish. Moss, chilli, herbal tea. Very short aftertaste. Overall, this was very dissapointing. Marketed as "the smokiest Ardbeg ever" and it did not gave me one bit of smoke. Peat sometimes is not equal to smoke. It is not overly powerful to feel like a Hypernova and it is certainly weaker that every one of the Supernova expressions. Linear, simple and boring. It felt like a junior version of an Octomore (which i am not the fondest fan). My score for this very normal whisky is 84 over 100, and for the price it goes, this should be avoided.

Lots of peat but it is more charred barrel than smoke.