New Release: Ardbeg Official Supernova 2014 Release

A smoky and stimulating Ardbeg. Ardbeg OB Supernova Committee SN2014 Release 55% The aroma features strong metal, chlorine, smoky peat, ripe orange, vanilla, nuts, young barley. Upon drinking, it is stimulating with strong smoky peat, nuts, young barley, rich sweetness, alcohol sensation, body, and a long finish. [Good/Very Good] SuperNova is Ardbeg's whisky made with the strongest peated malt (phenol value 100ppm) from their distillery, which was released a few years ago but hasn't been produced recently. This year's bottling commemorates the completion of Ardbeg's space experiment (zero-gravity maturation). As expected, it delivers a strong smoky peat character, with the sharp metallic and chlorine nuances typical of Ardbeg emphasized. The alcohol sensation was strong due to its youthful spirit, but the sweetness and body were also notable, with a long finish. Initially released, it was popular, but I found it slightly too dry and metallic for my taste. This version is still quite sharp and robust with strong metal notes, but I found it more enjoyable than the previous one. Whether I've changed or Supernova has evolved is unclear, but it seems they've added sherry cask spirit to alter its character. Interestingly, at Campbelltown Loch in Yurakucho where I mainly receive malts, the frequency of new releases has clearly increased compared to the past. The reason isn't due to old bottles running out, but rather because new releases centered around 1990s distillations have become more abundant and high-quality. Of course, the shop still offers enjoyable courses blending old and new bottles as before. On my blog, I prioritize new releases at the request of readers and for easier sharing, but lately, coverage of old bottles has lagged. There are many accumulated tasting notes, especially for old bottles. I understand that visiting the shop after reading the blog might find some items already sold out, so please bear with me. There's surely a delicious alternative available. As mentioned above, there are challenging aspects to coverage, but the joy of new releases is something to be happy about for the future. With that in mind, I plan to continue high-frequency coverage of new releases for a while, so please understand and support me.