Ardbeg Whisky Sample Hypernova Committee Release 2023 (30ml, 51%)

Ardbeg Whisky Sample Hypernova Committee Release 2023 (30ml, 51%)

The Ardbeg Hypernova (Committee Release) is a "stellar" outlier in the distillery’s history. Originally released in late 2022 and moving into 2023, it was designed to be the ultimate successor to the legendary Supernova series.

Marketing-wise, Ardbeg threw down the gauntlet with this one, claiming it to be the "smokiest Ardbeg ever to mature into existence." While the standard Ardbeg 10 sits around 50–55ppm, the Hypernova boasts a staggering phenol level in excess of 170ppm.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Pungent and medicinal. It hits with a wave of creosote, soot, and industrial tar. Beneath the heavy smoke, there are sharp, high-toned notes of peppermint, aniseed, and lime zest. It has a "cold" smokiness to it, reminiscent of wet charcoal and medical bandages, with a bizarre but intriguing hint of plasticine and burnt rubber.

Palate: Explosive and peppery. The texture is surprisingly creamy, but the flavor is a "collision of worlds." You get sweet milk chocolate and vanilla fighting against bitter almonds, clove, and intense peat smoke. Mid-palate, it turns earthy and savory, showing notes of roasted coffee and smoked meats.

Finish: Enormous and "collapsing." The smoke is heavy and all-encompassing, lingering long after the sip is gone. It fades into ashy heather, dark cacao, and a final, salty maritime tang.

Why it's special

• The 170ppm Milestone: This is officially the peatiest Ardbeg ever released. It was a direct response to the "Peat Wars" of the last decade, proving that Ardbeg could reach Octomore-level numbers while maintaining their specific distillery character.

• The "Mainland" Peat Twist: Interestingly, to achieve these extreme levels, the distillery had to use mainland peat rather than Islay peat for the malting process. This gives Hypernova a slightly different "flavor profile" of smoke—more medicinal and soot-driven than the usual BBQ-smoke of the core range.

• The "Surreal" Juxtaposition: It is a polarizing bottle. Some find it "too much," while others celebrate it as a "once-in-a-lifetime cataclysmic event." Trying a 30ml sample is the perfect way to see which side of the "black hole" you land on.