Ardbeg Supernova 2015

Remember that one review where i told you that Ardbeg Galilleo was said to have been in space but it wasn't? Well... THIS ONE HAS BEEN TO SPACE. At least a couple molecules of it. Brace yourselves, this is going to be a long but beautiful (for me) review. Ardbeg Supernova has four expressions so far (they have announced a new one for 2019 with a lovely UFO label), this review if for the 2015 Committee release, THE SPACE EXPERIMENT ONE. Space experiment you say? Yes. Actually this whisky was part of the 2011 experiment where Ardbeg sent vials of Ardbeg-Crafted-Molecules to the International Space Station, and once there, this vials orbited the planet for 3 years. Finally it landed on september 12 of 2014, in Kazakhstan. But... are this particles inside the whisky? No. They are not. The molecules that were actually Ardbeg's new make spirit with micro staves of oak returned in a status called "Micro-Gravity" and what they actually did was to compare this micro gravity Ardbeg vials with the normal Ardbeg... and guess what... they were different. Some particules of phenols and high alcohol had different values so you can say the experiment was a success. I don't know if anyone has ever tried them but that Ardbeg from Space is a different dram. But don't believe me. Everything you need to know about the experiment is in this .PDF: https://www.ardbeg.com/sites/ardbeg.com/files/2017-10/ARD9109SupernovaWhitePaperA4.pdf So.... what is Ardbeg Supernova? It is a tribute to that experiment. The special thing about it is that this Ardbeg has 100ppm peat, and the normal expressions are only 55ppm. The label is lovely, the name is amazing.... LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WHISKY! Bottled at 54.3%abv (similar to the Uigeadail). On the nose is sublime: Citric; the Peatinesson this is beautiful, not invasive at all; Grapefruit. I got TEA. Herbal Tea notes. Vanilla after first sip. Cigarrettes note. On the palate it is a very enjoyable whisky. Caramel, Lime, Peat. Beautiful salty dram. Caramel chocolate. Aftertaste is where the sun dies to release the explosion known as Supernova. Wasabi - Pepper - Sugar -Heather and Peat. Overall this feels like a sweeter version of Ardbeg's Uigeadail. A great dram, with a great story and a lovely bottle. 96 over 100 here, grab your 5 stars.... in space.

Very smooth, lightly sweet with fruit notes. Strong hints of peat and some smoke but not overpowering.

A nice full mouth-feel, as to be expected from a on-chill filtered whisky. A heavy hit of peat gives way to some sweet and creamy notes, with a little crème brûlée on the finish as well as some licorice and more peat.

color - light straw/clear smell - campfire smoke taste (neat) - smokey, heat, smooth, long finish taste (3 drops of water) - huge differences! complex, leather, smokey and light sweetness