Ardbeg Supernova 2019

Aroma is crisp and clean, carrying a profile that reminds me of a bonfire at the beach; Palate has more of a saline kick, but hits the same minerally and lighter sweet notes that make this so interesting; Finish is my favorite part melding the malty, sweet and minerally notes together.

2019 Ardbeg Supernova...First Impressions: Nose: dense campfire smoke, grilled meat, vegetal peat, malt, fresh pressed wildflowers, vanilla, tobacco, apple butter. Palate: immediately sweet dense malt, honey, golden delicious apples and pineapple syrup. Then the peat explodes in a battle between vegetal and herbal notes. Anise, menthol, sweet floral, and then the barrel spice erupts on the back end. Finish: long, creamy mint, peat, vanilla, forest floor. Leaning more sweet than earthy. Through the whole journey is this dense cord of smoke wrapped in all the sweet malt and vegetal peat notes; From front to finish. This is such a unique Ardbeg. Almost leaning in the Octomore direction but completely Ardbegian. Nosing it next to the 10yr reveals the depth of smoke and peat as the 10yr noses like a malty “briney” Highland in comparison. This is amazing in every way.

It’s snowing out. Not sure where we are, but it’s somewhere near the ocean because the air is crisp and clean with a hint of brine. Approaching a friendly campfire, we’re greeted with a wave of burning oak. It can almost be tasted in the snowflakes crashing down. Moving on toward a large barn the first hints of livestock arrive, but these are not your ordinary scents. No, they are far more exquisite….noble in fact. We have somehow stumbled on the king’s stable of thoroughbreds. Struck by the splendor of it all, their elegance fills the air and combine with the sweet savor of rare leather. Awakening…….wow, a dream so lifelike the taste of oily smoke still covers my tongue. Oak tannins tingle as they dry up the oils leaving lemon citrus and bourbon spiciness. Ardbeg heritage is unmistakable and wrapped in the conundrum of a never ending finest hour. 5 stars. #yfy (attribution @brent )

You better like peat to appreciate this one! If you do, this may be the finest peat-monster you’ll ever sample. Complex and zesty without being overbearing. Gets your attention upfront and then massages your palate with a long, smoky oak finish.