Islay whisky

Ardbeg To Blast Off With Supernova 2

Filed under: Spirits

First released in 2009 to wide acclaim, Ardbeg Supernova single-malt whisky sparked connoisseurs worldwide when it was named Scotch Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010. Supernova has returned with a new limited release, set to hit retailers on May 31. For those who missed the original, the peatiness is over-the-top with the taste of Scotland's western coast lingering in the mouth an hour after finishing the dram. It doesn't seem possible, but Ardbeg master distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden says the taste this time around is even deeper and earthier, with the new expression up to 120.2 proof. It's easily one of the biggest tastes in Scotch on the market. Price is about $115.00

Lumsden is the brains behind both Ardbeg and Glenmorangie. Both brands are owned by LVMH. I have often said that Glenmorangie's Highland single-malt is an apt dram for Scottish lairds, and Ardbeg is more apt for marauding Vikings. Supernova, a brilliant expression of peaty whisky, would put new hair on the chest of Turgesius.

Tags: Ardbeg, Ardbeg Supernova, Bill Lumsden, Islay whisky, Single-Malt Scotch Whiskey, Single-malt whisky, whisky

Ardbeg Releases Rollercoaster Worldwide

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Ardbeg Whisky, part of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, is certainly not the biggest single-malt whisky distillery in Scotland. But it has become the most talked about thanks to its often cheeky product names ("Very Young," was a six-year-old Whisky released in 2004 and now sells for $380.00 by some retailers) and creative online marketing.

And so the distillery is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the formation of the Ardbeg Committee, a now-50,000-plus group of fans and followers, by releasing a limited bottling of a new expression called Rollercoaster [see video here].

To create Rollercoaster, which master distiller Bill Lumsden helped name to describe the last decade at Ardbeg, the whisky has been created by taking from ten years of casks, from 1997 to 2006, and vetting enough to create a volume sufficient for 10,000 bottles. In keeping with the occasion, buyers have to be members of the committee, which can be joined online at www.Ardbeg.com.

Rollercoaster fits in well with the growing family of Ardbeg whiskies. That means it has smoke to burn. The key difference between Rollercoaster and, say, Ardbeg's Ten-year-old flagship product, is a bit more sweet spice added to the peat-fires--fudge, burnt sugar and treacle flavors emerge along with a touch of the seaweed and brine that is characteristic of Islay malts. Lumsden is also achieving a level of creamy qualities in the Ardbeg malts that are the envy of other distillers, not that they would readily admit it.

Most of the casks selected are ex-bourbon but a couple are ex-sherry. The result makes for a nice mix of fruit and vanilla undertones. Rollercoaster has been bottled at 57.3% ABV, with the recommended price, $75. It can be ordered through the website at www.ardbeg.com. If shipping direct is a problem, it can be shipped to specific retailers. As with any limited bottling like this, especially cult-fav Ardbeg,it might be worthwhile to buy two--one for drinking and one for saving.

Tags: Ardbeg, Ardbeg Rollercoaster, ArdbegRollercoaster, Bill Lumsden, BillLumsden, Islay malts, Islay whisky, IslayMalts, IslayWhisky, whiskey, whisky