Ardbeg Hypernova

Overall rating
87.25/100
votes
375
Whiskybase ID
WB202020
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Committee HN2022 Release
Bottled
12.05.2022
Strength
51.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code
L2447880
Barcode
5010494978292
Added on
14 jan 2022 12:39 pm by Tauti

Average value

€ 348.65

138 × in wishlist

375 × member ratings

2654 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Ardbeg Hypernova

68 users have left 69 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.25 points.

  1. voodoochile scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    The hype is real. A straight forward intense smoke whisky that doesn't make any compromises
    • Nose
      92 92
      When the whisky was in the glass i leaned forward and had a whiff of smoke but i think that was a misjudgement. The nose is sweet, a bit salty, citrus notes with other fresh fruits, a hint of hansaplast and a hint of smoke when you concentrate on it.
    • Taste
      91 91
      Here comes the peat, the tar, the burnt rubber very oily. You can almost chew the dram. It captivated the mouth and after the second sip i could identify other flavours. Citrus notes and sweet floral and herbal notes.
    • Finish
      91 91
      Medium length, dry. Smoke and sweet. Like it!

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  3. GLENRIGI scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  4. The_Osprey scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Ardbeg Hypernova Committee Release 2022, 51%, 25ml sample Nov 2022.

    Very pale yellow, almost colourless.

    Aroma is youthful and a little closed, some ‘salty’ impressions. Sandy for sure. I’m getting some young spirit esters – its not shouting youth but clearly could have done with an extra couple of years.

    Body is moderately oily.

    Taste is again salt and spice, rusty metal, maybe a hint of cardamom and mint, pleasantly iodine / medicinal in the middle...in a way that some really good Laphroaigs can be (but to a lesser extent here). Over time that typical subtle Ardbeg lemon note starts coming along with the peat.

    Pretty dense but not to the extent that it’s lacking character or one dimensional. Much better on palate than aroma. Pretty punchy but not hot. Good and warming.

    I’d really like to see more Ardbeg peated to this level, but aged a bit longer. Definitely more promising than some other recent Ardbeg specials, but I couldn’t justify paying £190. 3.5/83.5

    Just a small drop of water (certainly no lower than 47%) turns this into a pussycat of a dram. It’s lost its hard edge, its now ethereal and soft with a gentle smoke. Extremely drinkable. I like it with and without water but it certainly offers a lot more interest at the higher ABV.

  5. Dre73 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Very decent peaty dram, with some nice caramel sweetness in it as well. Very pleasant and interesting whisky.
    • Nose
      86 86
      Farmy, peaty, rubber, some fake leather, not too much alcohol punching.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Powerful now, sweet smoke, caramel sweetness, peatsmoke. Creamy mouthfeel, more smooth later on.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Warming now, smoky and sweet, pretty long finish with a combo of peatsmoke and caramel sweetness.

  6. Malthead19 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    COLOR: Straw
    - good Ardbeg and NAS single malt, but don't think necessarily
    better than the CORRYVRECKAN
    - so about 300 € definitely too expensive
    • Nose
      - strong cold smoke, light sweetness in the background
    • Taste
      Strong, sweet, smoky onset, you don't even notice the 51%, vanilla, but quite quickly
    • Finish
      long smoky finish ;
      medium-long aftertaste

  7. Tommyknocker scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Very courageous that such a young whisky is bottled here. Guess him for a good 3 years. Almost New Make. Hugely salty, greasy nose, pear behind and citrus. Very metallic youthful in the mouth with now endless smoke load. Like Hampden DOK only with phenols. Strangely enough, what was never so much in the foreground with the Octomore was here now fully on the 12th Rauchmonster. Kinda cool.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  8. WillWhisky scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
      Iodine, peanut oil, seaweed, some wet ink
      All in mild way
    • Taste
      87 87
      Peat, light peanut, warm, light salty, easy drinking, not complex and heavy
    • Finish
      87 87
      Some ink and salty

  9. WillWhisky scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Some peanut oil? Some sea shell, maybe not openned well yet
      Some flower notes

      Not so usual Ardbeg smell
    • Taste
      88 88
      All smooth and well, consistent with ashy
    • Finish
      88 88
      Peat and ashy at the back, some dark coffee, if like more peat, thats good

  10. Saftkenner scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Very special, but still impressively intense. In any case an experience. However, you have to stand on it...
    • Nose
      84 84
      A lot of smoke comes straight out of the glass, but the youth is also quite noticeable. After the first 10 minutes in the glass, it becomes a little rounder.
      Acrid campfire smoke, hints of sea breeze, metallic notes, fermented 'apples, carpet glue, vanilla, burnt caramel, citrus notes, tar, moss, pear juice.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Sparkling start, soft and creamy on the palate despite the drinking strength.
      Citrus notes, acrid smoke, tar, iodine, metal, rusty salt water, burnt caramel, white pepper, green pears, chemistry set, lemon balm, oak spice.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Mid-length finish. Tar, smoke, ash, iodine, oranges, ginger, carpet glue, pear juice, toffee.

  11. CluaranDeilgneach scored this whisky 83 points Member Senior

    It is so light in colour... I think Ardbeg TEN is more intense...
    Extremely young in the nose, with aroma of smoke, malt extract, milk chocolate, tar, peat, peat, and peat again, with tiny claws if any at all...
    In terms of taste it's smoky, sweet-lemony, straight, with some earthy dirtiness, some Pu-erh tea, and very well integrated alcohol.
    Where exactly it is Hyper again?
    Overall it is an overrated, uncomplicated, modern-style, overpriced whisky with catchy design label and limited number of how many bottles exactly? 10-18thousands?
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  12. Nazin scored this whisky 60 points Expert Senior

    Enitrely not my style. Young, cooked vegetables, bleh.

  13. crouly scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  14. AlphaCentauri scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Exciting! Exciting good? Yes, also! Exciting very good? Hmm... 210€ were called up. A whole lot of money and usually above my personal pain threshold. I've had a few much worse Ardbegs in the recent past, but the Hypernova doesn't play in the premier league. Neither in the supernova series, nor in general.
    An interesting whisky to try and one that Ardbegnerds will also enjoy.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Smoke! No, I thought so... actually my first association is a malty sweetness. Then, clearly but less brutely than expected, the typical Ardbeg smoke and the well-known citrus notes. Nothing green, sprity or metallic - phu, lucky you! I still have a little menthol, tar, vanilla and smoldering, dry weed.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Here the smoke overtakes the sweetness a bit from the off and the two components are equal in my perception. The alcohol gives it volume without being too present, but it looks a bit more youthful on the palate than on the nose. The citrus notes come through again, a little tannins from the wood. However, the smoke remains surprisingly subdued for the fact that we are talking about the smokiest Ardbeg of all time.
      I perceive it as a bit smokier than the colleagues from the standard range, but not smokier than the predecessors from the series. In the second third it almost gets a bit spicy in an exciting way. I can't tell if it's from the smoke, the alcohol, or the youth. However, my tongue tickles a little on the side, like when you've eaten something spicy. Almost like small pinpricks on the tongue and palate - exciting, I've never had anything like that with whisky.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Medium length, the smoke goes in the ashy direction and is generally overshadowed somewhat by the action still taking place in the mouth. The smoke stays there for a long time. Sweetness again, some citrus, tannins, grassy freshness and above all the smoke that clings to the mouth.

  15. ThorstenH scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    81-85 – Wow, really good one
    • Nose
      81 81
      Lemon sweetness on peat. Just my taste.
      At the 2nd turn there was some cowshed. Actually not my favorite, but here it is quite interesting.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Surprisingly mild. You notice peat, but really mild.
    • Finish
      81 81
      The PPM's now punch through, but in a pleasant way, not overpoweringly. Surprisingly good.

  16. Tuco1972 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  17. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    It seems most 90+ noobs have never tried this bottle or are young and rather easily impressed. However whilst not a total stunner this turned out tastier than I would've guessed measured by most recent/previous special releases. Sure, up to 60% abv. - aka REAL cask strength - would've been preferrable, but it seems refined and elegant in its way despite the assumed younger age. Not a peat monster but doesn't have to sink into shame compared to the 19 yo. At 1/2 release price this would be an occasional go-to bottle for me.

  18. reste2000 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    The Ardbeg tastes really good to me. However, value for money does not fit here.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Dry ash, light metallic note, smell of a dry old wooden box, sweet, minimal seaweed, overheated saw blade, smoke, some salt, cooled tar, wax.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Cold smoke, alcohol not too sharp, sweet metallic note, slightly salty, slightly bitter towards the finish, typical Ardbeg, taste like smelling rubber bands.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Salty, smoky, dry, stays in the mouth quite a long time, metallic, tinny note lingers on the tongue.

  19. Killswitch scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  20. Islaysmoke scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    I like this Ardbeg Committee bottling very much. Of course, the price is too high and beyond reason in the secondary market.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Sweet and smoky, lemony fresh sea breeze, some light sweet fruit with vanilla.
    • Taste
      91 91
      The sweetness and the smoke immediately on the palate, but it is not overwhelming. The citrus notes are there with the nice sweet smoke, some floral, vanilla and spices. Anise, typically Ardbeg.
    • Finish
      90 90
      At least medium length, sweet and smoky. Also in the aftertaste citrus and aniseed. Spice goes slightly in the direction of bitterness/tart. The nice dry sweet slightly ashy note stays the longest.

  21. WhiskyManifestBS scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    I was a bit disappointed with the first nose. The first sip made up for it. Sweet ashy peat smoke hitting the twelve with a long finish that's a little reminiscent of cowsheds. I can't understand the roasted rubber or the chocolate described on the bottle, but nobody can fool Ardbeg in marketing either ;-)
    I'm glad I only had one sample because I would have been a bit disappointed with a bottle for the price. But I think that's definitely the case with Ardbeg bottlings in this price range.

  22. valasios scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Overpriced!!!!!!!!!!
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  23. Archer scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Young, not at all as smoky as I expected after the distillery's full-bodied announcement (the most intense smoky note that the whisky is able to deliver only emerged when the glass was emptied to a small extent), unspectacular .
    Blindly, I would have bet on any Islay smoker, NAS or a maximum of 5 years old, 45.00.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Smoked pear slices, green apple, freshly peeled green rind: makes a rather young impression at first glance. Smoked ham, warm corrugated iron, slightly metallic.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Really sweet start with fresh figs, raisins, warm pear sauce. Soft, not overly smoky. Something metallic, a freshly mowed meadow, green bark, smoked ham.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Short and mild finish, pear sauce, milk chocolate, greasy smoke.

  24. Arrrrrdbeg scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Smoke (but actually very subtle), anise, lemon, sweet, ash, liquorice, mineral, salt, stone flour
    • Taste
      Smoke, Ash, Pepper, Chili, Oily, Salt, Anise, Licorice, Mineral, Lemon, Bitter
    • Finish
      long, intense, oily, smoke, aniseed, lemon, slightly sweet, pepper, a campfire note with a subtle sweetness always remains in the mouth.

  25. P.A.O.K.you_are scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  26. Drawnen scored this whisky 95 points Member Junior

    I don't know what everyone has.
    Nose: powerful smoke, fennel, chocolate, green walnut
    Taste: intensely fresh, smoke still present
    Finish: smoky sweet and beautifully soft at 51%.

    Why everyone is upset that the smoke is barely getting through. I am happy

  27. Pater_Erison scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
      Peat smoke. Menthol. A wonderful sweetness giving me hints of honey and toffee. Overripe lemon. Machine oil. All notes still covered in smoke, yet, it is more gentle than you would assume for over 170ppm.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Sweet and malty at first. Chocolate notes. Cherry. Vanilla. Orange peel. Al covered in a surprisingly gentle peat smoke.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Ash. Chocolate. Malty and oaky. Sweeter notes prevail. Medium long to long.

  28. hogsheadwhisky scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    It's fun. The smoke is really powerful. But not too powerful. It doesn't drown out the other flavors. He needs some time to fully develop but then he really shows his Islay and Ardbeg genes. I find the other flavors very present and well presented - despite the high ppm level.
    I won't write anything more about the price of the committee releases. If it doesn't hurt to shell out more than € 200 for a schnapps, this is a very nice Ardbeg. Open the bottles and enjoy the drop.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Nice intense Ardbeg smoke, heavy, greasy, oily, smelling of dried seaweed and tree sap. The smoke lasts a long time, but it doesn't seem to me to be as violent as, for example, an Octomore with a comparable ppm number. Otherwise he is a little shy. The remaining aromas, apart from the typical maritime fixed points known from Ardbegs such as salty, iodine, pebble minerality and seaweed, hide introvertedly behind the clouds of smoke. It needs some time and rest in the glass.
      Oh yeah. Oxygen is good for him. After a good fifteen to twenty minutes, the smoke recedes into the background - or your nose has gotten used to it. In addition to the classic lemon slices that are soaked in sugar and slightly squeezed out, there are also pieces of a not yet overripe pineapple that have been lightly smoked. There are also spicy aromas of dried herbs and needles of spruce and fir, along with a hint of eucalyptus and mint.
      The alcohol is wonderfully integrated, there is no sharpness or stinging in the nose.
    • Taste
      88 88
      When you try it for the first time, the Hypernova starts with a good portion of smoke, just like in the nose, now mainly of the dry, ashy type with slightly phenolic hints. Iodine, sea associations and something like machine oil from the old engine of a fishing trawler follow the heavy trail of smoke in the taste. This is followed by a brief flare of subtle sweetness paired with the pineapple and vanilla before leveling off on the spicy side. Some resin, dried herbs, anise or liquorice and a light note of dark chocolate.
      With the second sip, of course still powerfully smoky, the sweetness with the pineapple, the lemon and the spicy dried herb aromas come into their own. As in the nose, the alcohol is well woven in. I don't think adding water is necessary.
    • Finish
      88 88
      It gets a bit astringent towards the end, especially at the front of the mouth. The vanilla is still present along with the slightly sugared juice of the pineapple pieces. Of course, the ashy, spicy smoke is still hyper-present and remains the defining feature in the finish. Otherwise, as far as the other aromas are concerned, a rather medium-length finish.

  29. juju cassoulet scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Ash cold and uncomplicated, it's not for me
    • Nose
      Strongly peaty, an odor that I cannot identify bothers me, cooked turnip? artichoke? Bitter Almond ?
    • Taste
      Cold ashes, alcohol is not very present
    • Finish
      very short finish

  30. MiRy scored this whisky 99 points Member Junior

    It's my absolute Favourite !!!
    • Nose
      100 100
    • Taste
      100 100
    • Finish
      97 97

  31. dominikbraun scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Pretty ironic that the feature that is supposed to make this Ardbeg so special hardly stands out from the other bottlings: the smoke. For the "smokiest Ardbeg" it's not even that smoky.

    Just like the Ardbeg 8 For Discussion, the Hypernova is also an "Ardbeg 10 on steroids": Very voluminous, delicate and velvety soft, sweet with milk chocolate and candies, clear and pleasant smoke, oak wood and some maritime notes. Pretty tasty, but _never_ worth €210.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  32. Petitcham scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Flat from beginning to end, rich peat, fruits with green apples, no discomfort

  33. rolabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  34. olegborgol scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Peat-floral (perfume) with iodine and medical notes, burnt wood and lemon, machine oil, varnish and pepper. 22-21.5-21.5-22
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  35. Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Medicinal but also coastal peat, vanilla, citrus, also some industrial notes, easy drinking though not really exciting

  36. alcohol_Shrimp scored this whisky 87 points Newbie

    Hypernova... It's a very strong name, but I was a bit surprised by the scent that wasn't as strong as I thought. A subtle but strong scent of peat is felt and a light sweet scent appears. I could feel this feeling at Octomore as well. The ppm is considerable, but when you feel it yourself, it doesn't feel like that.

    When I put it in my mouth, the taste and aroma of smoky and peat appear, but it is not very intense. It feels calm. Soft spice appears, followed by a natural transition to sweetness. And slowly, a light sweetness spreads. The feeling of green apple and a light touch of oak and vanilla. The subtle sweet scent continues naturally.

    Smoke follows, Pete. What I felt in the fragrance goes beyond the mouth and continues evenly to the lingering aftertaste. Not intense, but impressive. The more the stimulus is released, the more it reveals its presence. The afterglow is really long. And I really don't know about this whisky. It was so impressive that it felt like a child, but it continued from the beginning to the end.

  37. Mankut scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Wow that's delicious. Departure before the mouth is phenomenal. Oily, lemony, sweet and lively, a few Riesling barrels or sparkling wine could have been there. Never tasted like this in a whisky and Ardbeg has earned 91 points.
    To others in the community !!!!!
    I have the feeling that the cork of the Ardbeg Hypernova large bottle smells damp and musty. Is that anyone else after opening the bottle and smelling the cork I mean that smells musty. I exchanged it for another one yesterday...the Ardbeg smell is gone but I think it smells musty...!!!!!! Do not hope that Ardb has accidentally developed a damp and musty smell on corks from the Hypernova series due to carelessness or incorrect storage of the corks!
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      94 94
      94… Unique,,,good and so beautiful Citron salty sweet and creamy to oily on the palate,!!!!!

  38. zapfdaniel scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  39. Immerenga scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    This is really awesome stuff. Truly, one for the legends. I´d give it even a 92, but the price is a bit of a bummer

  40. dapoinbua scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  41. whisky666 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    First of all... the 170 ppm smoke content is not much noticeable in contrast to an Octomore. This Ardbeg is not a bad whisky, but in my opinion it does not fulfill what it promises.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  42. dram-drinker scored this whisky 86 points Photo Moderator

    Very peaty on the medicinal and herbal side, good mouthfeel - too medicinal for my taste - I liked the initial Supernova and SN2010 more
    • Nose
      87 87
      Intense, herbs, hint of rubber, some engine oil and varnish, citric, vanilla, peat, smoke, hay, medicinal, iodine, band aid, lemon peel, disinfectant, nuts
    • Taste
      86 86
      Very oily, creamy, kippery, medicinal, peaty, herbal, varnish, engine oil, smoky fish, citric, salty, wet hay, bonfire, vanilla
    • Finish
      85 85
      Medium long, warm, vanilla, spices, herbs, medicinal, varnish, peaty, plastic, a tad bitter

  43. aquataste scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Very sweet, burnt rubber, burnt wood, ash, peat smoke, caramelized lemon peel, dried herbs, some toffee and caramel, wet hay and leather, notes of a horse stable: o (like a moment in a glass), a breath of the sea in the background and the freshness of green fruit
    • Taste
      Smooth and sweet, a bit mineral, a lot of peat smoke with a pinch of white pepper and salt, ash, skin, caramelized fruit, anise, dried compote (Christmas Eve compote), a handful of dried herbs, toffee and caramel in the background
    • Finish
      Medium length but intense, sweet peaty smoke with ash, dried herbs

  44. herby.usa scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Got a sample at the Hall of Angels Share fair.
    8€ for 1 cl (everyone can do the math for themselves how much that amounts to for 70 cl - brrrr it shakes me, but I wanted to try it at least once)
    • Nose
      87 87
      Classic nose of the new Ardbegs.

      This one: phenolic notes (peat) salty, sea spray, smoked bacon, wet driftwood, some coffee grounds, vanilla, some mineral overtones.
      Cold ashes can be guessed at - but really only guessed at.
      The 170 ppm is not really overwhelming - so comparable to the Octomores.
    • Taste
      90 90
      Soft and very supple from the start.
      light pepperiness blended with saltiness, sweetness, citrus, honey.
      And then comes the ashiness - but very, very subdued, by no means overwhelming.
      Wow, now the alternation between saltiness and sweetness begins.
      Coffee, cocoa and spices (Kadamon ??)
      At the end, the mucous membranes in the mouth contract and the mouth becomes dry.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Medium long (definitely due to the cask strength)
      Bitterness, saltiness and light ash linger in the mouth.

  45. eselsim scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    The nose is closed, gentle, not perceptible peat smoke, later flowers, soap, eucalyptus, vegetation.

    All the smoke is in the taste. It was as if he had chewed coal. Dry finish
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  46. VanOpek scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Magnificent Ardbeg! It's not that complex, but has a wonderful range of smoky notes with some sweet accents in background. The smoke isn't classic Arbdeg, more something between Ardbeh and Laphroaig. It reminds me of the Ardbeg Scorch CR smokiness.
    • Nose
      88 88
      soft and full of flavour, soot, industrial tar, grease, the smoke is industrial - strong and constantly present but pleasant, leather, some butter rolls, alty water and citric accents under the smoke
    • Taste
      85 85
      semi-sweet, a powerful punch of industrial smoke, soot, tar, oily in texture, spicy/young oak, bitter herbs, the sweetness of vanilla and dark chocolate in background, intense and delicious
    • Finish
      88 88
      very long and smoky, semi-dry, tar, soot, dark chocolate, smooth and deep

  47. Funtik scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

  48. Kimba scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    First I have to write that I find the Hypernova very tasty.

    The smoke fills the room as soon as you pour it. However, the color is very pale.
    One of them wasn't in the barrel for long, I think, and these were already occupied more often.

    Is that bad? we will see.

    The nose is nice.
    You can smell it immediately, that it is an Ardbeg. everything there
    And behind that is the smoke. Nice strong smoke. But he is not superficial. What is good.

    Then the first sip.
    ???? bang, everything is different.
    Nothing more sweet, nothing more subtle.
    Full in the f......

    No Ardbeg has ever been that strong in my mouth. Smoke alcohol and bourbon barrel.

    The Trinity for good whisky.

    Three things aren't really the pinnacle of complexity, but the Hypernova pulls those three things together nicely.

    Great unusual Ardbeg.

    I read he was one dimensional!
    I'd rather say he's straight forward, that's better.

    Is that worth 210 euros?

    In return, the inclined connoisseur gets a complex Glendronach Parliament with 21 years on the hump and from a sherry cask.

    So on paper a clear no.

    210 euros for a Hype Ardbeg NAS without finish.

    In the mouth, however, it has a unique selling point in the Ardbeg world.

    And if you want to taste it more often, you have to pay the 210 euros.

    I enjoy the Hypernova and I find it delicious.

    No Ü 90 whisky and yes, 170 euros or 150 would have done it too....

    But I will empty it with no regrets.

    cheers

    hp do yourself a favor Leave it for at least 20 minutes. 30 is better! :-)

  49. Whisky-Fancier scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Appears very young on the nose. This is followed quickly by an ashtray smoke with a strong sweetness. The alcohol is very well integrated in the taste. The sweetness harmonises perfectly with the dry smoke. A "dry ashtray" remains in the outlet.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      88 88

  50. despairas scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    I would consider myself as a hopeless Ardbeg-Fanboy, but this time I only organized myself a sample to at least try the Hypernova.

    210€ for a, surely, very young NAS whisky...even my fanboy-love taps out here.

    So how good is the Hypernova?

    The nose is quite pleasant and the smoke indeed is different in comparison to "normal" Ardbegs: Way more ashy and earthy.

    I do smell something that reminds me of roasted or grilled bell pepper, which I like a lot. But there isn't much more than roasted bell pepper and a lot of smoke for me. The alcohol is quite tingly in the nose, but still not too dominant.

    The taste is a bit too flat and one dimensional for me. It's good, but in comparison to the price the Hypernova doesn't do much to justify it.

    Indeed it's quite spicy and peppery. But I'm also missing the classic Ardbeg sweetness here. And you do taste the youth of this fellow. I would be surprised if it's matured for more than 7-8 years.

    Also the aftertaste is quite flat: Surely there's a lot of smoke. But despite that, it's very short.

    The alcohol is bound in very good though, you can hardly feel it.

    I do like experiments like these and for about 100€ this bottling would still be a bit pricy, but I could live with that and LVMH would still earn a fortune with it.

    But 210€ is just insane for such a young whisky and such flat taste, sorry.

  51. Prof_Dr_John scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    So now I've treated myself to one of these Ardbeg hype bottlings. In its entirety, the Ardbeg is a thoroughly successful bottling. I remember the Ardbeg 10, which was my first smoker ever > I threw it out the window right after the first sip... this one is very different. The highly hyped 170 PPM doesn't come across as drastic as you might think. On the contrary: the more PPM, the sweeter the whisky becomes. See also Octomore 08.3 with its 309 PPM. The Hypernova is "nice" but for the price it "can" not do enough. I much prefer an Octomore 07.3. Octomore just does it better too. Do you have to have this bottle? Well, one sample is enough for me for now. Let's see if I open my bottle. 89 points from me. Slainte!
    • Nose
      89 89
      bright gold, almost transparent. Surprisingly sweet (the more PPM > the sweeter it gets), slightly maritime-salty, citrus notes come through, smoke, burnt rubber, vanilla, some hay... iodine, salt and sweetness again. Interesting
    • Taste
      89 89
      The 51% is amazingly mild on the tongue. Significantly more smoky in the mouth than in the nose. It starts off peppery-spicy, more tar, burnt rubber, a hint of smoked bacon, and pleasant sweetness again. The hay comes through again, the citrus notes knock discreetly at the back. A hint of light herbs is added. All in all not the complexity monster, but nice. More pleasant than expected.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Amazingly short. Initially sharp, then sweet and smoky again, rubber and tar, again hay and citrus notes. The spiciness slowly disappears, a dry mouthfeel spreads, warming and surprisingly pleasant.

  52. Wilhelm58 scored this whisky 92 points Member Senior

    A great Ardbeg that will go down in history as the smokiest. It's similar to the Supernova, but I think the Hypernova tastes better! Good work!!
    • Nose
      92 92
      Heavy peat smoke, ash, pepper, leather, after a few drops of water liquorice, moss and burnt gum similar to a caroni rum
    • Taste
      92 92
      strong, oily, peaty, salted caramel, dark chocolate, aniseed, cloves
    • Finish
      91 91
      Long heavy smoke, roasted coffee, smoked heather, moss, earthy notes

  53. SuppenHuhn scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  54. DramALife did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    S
    A bottle for the super peatheads, crazily peated yet still allowing leeways for the distillate and cask to shine through. Colour: pale straw. Overall quite dry and dirty. Focus more on the peat than the smoke. Worth every penny when I compare it to recent Octomores.

    N
    More towards that salty & earthy peated Ardbeg, not at Corrvyrevkon level of salinity tho. Nothing like Octomore peated monster even 170ppm. Bonfire on a rainy day. Wet hay. Roasted peanuts. A whiff of smoked bacon. Citrus fruits whispering behind the phenol. Drops of water open ups the fruits underneath despite still rather obscure, also a whiff of burnt newspaper.

    P
    Way more expressive than the nose. Slightly oily, very phenolic. The peat, the slight bitterness from the crazy ppm. Earthy. Smoked oak staves laid on ground. A drop of saline. Sweet fruits basket placed from a distance. Wild berries and blossoms rooted in the peat. Some chilli, ginger root and crushed peppercorn that’s well integrated into the peat. Drops of water again unveil more fruits, but the peat bitterness also intensified. Waves of menthols cleaning up the palate as the liquid swirled.

    F
    Drink no water and the peat’ll last forever finish. Mild char. Drying oak. Cold, earthy ashes. A whiff of salinity and fruitiness towards the very end.

  55. d1scostu scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      88 88

  56. gossm01 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    It has an oily viscosity and a high-intensity bouquet. I have aromas of pleasant maritime peat smoke, citrus, vanilla, cowshed, hay, creme brulee, mint and aniseed. Moderately complex. A good balance between sweetness and dryness in terms of taste. The alcohol is well integrated and it has a heavy body.

  57. WHISKYEUROPA2009 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    ... new dimensions ? Yes - the smell seemed normal at first, but then on the palate it explodes with iodine, smoke, peat and burnt rubber, followed by chilli. Nothing for gourmets, so just right for Ardbegaddians... Departure ultra drying and cold...
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      87 87

  58. PeterPapp scored this whisky 90 points Newbie

    Best Committee Release in Years

  59. WiltChamberlain scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Average Ardbe filling, I expect a little more for the price.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  60. JJKATED scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Say hello to flippers
    Not a bad whisky but I'd rather buy corry instead of this
    Supernova was better

  61. nhuber did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Above average committee bottling, sale price in Germany was 210€ including shipping

  62. katarn_rb scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Heavily Peated (170ppm)
    Official notes of the distillery:
    • Nose
      Strong, intense and almost brute in its intensity, waves of tar, smoke, sea salt and an almost "country air aroma" fill the void. Ethereal fruit notes reminiscent of blooming blackcurrants give way to powerful notes of peppermint. Slightly more rounded with a few drops of water, with hints of lavender and a touch of chocolate that transform into unusual notes of play dough and burnt gum.
    • Taste
      Explosive, peppery on the palate with bizarre tones of sweet chocolate, cool mint, pungent peat smoke, bitter almonds and an infinitely long, lingering burst of spice notes with aniseed and cloves.
    • Finish
      The finish collapses on itself with enormous, heavy smoke before earthy notes of roasted coffee and smoked heather take over.

  63. mappi_6 scored this whisky 90 points Member Senior

    Had the opportunity to try the Hypernova on Islay with Jackie Thompson, very enjoyable. For me, one of the best in recent times, since Blaaaack.
    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  64. Nikilema scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Tried it on Islay on Saturday with Jackie Thompson, very tasty, although the 170ppm doesn't really come across
    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  65. MaltsofIslay scored this whisky 90 points Expert Junior

    Tried in the distillery on Islay and I like it much better than the last Committee bottlings.
    However, also sporty priced at £ 185 on site!
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  66. Obynapewno scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    86.5
    • Nose
      87 87
      Sweet smoke, quite fresh, citrus grass, smoked meat, vanilla, some salt, peaches, smoked plums
    • Taste
      87 87
      Sweet, delicate smoke, floral, citrus, smoked, fresh, candy, a little wood
    • Finish
      86 86
      Short - Medium, Sweet, Pleasant, Smoky, Citrus, Meadow, Fresh

  67. Community Manager did not rate this whisky Community Manager

    To all who feel the need to manipulate scores on this bottle page:

    - We remove fake ratings (high and low)
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    We have removed several fake ratings that were given to this bottle so far (high and low). More will follow.

  68. LuznyHenryk scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    On the nose, sweet smoke, citrus, anise, smoked plum. There are biscuits, vanilla, covered in asphalt smoke, and finally a bouquet of flowers. The taste is also sweet smoke, smoked milk candy, pepper, gently sparkling on the tongue, dark chocolate. The finish is long, intense, smoky, sweet, very pleasant.

  69. redfoxiczek did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    Delicious dram. I don't know where they hide ppm but the taste is even better.

  70. mr_video scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    Mild hay, straw smelling nose. The initial taste was citrusy with a mild peat. No heat what do ever. Was some what oily, started to slowly dry, and a mild peaty mid length finish. Good but did not meet expectations of 170ppm. Surely not like an Octomore !

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