Ardbeg Supernova

[agoldf]

I opened a bottle a few weks go and I find that it has faded significantly (though it is stilll quite potent) over the past few weeks. Though it has been opened and shut quite a number of times, it is still over half full. Anyone have this experience?

[johan brugge]

It's been a while since I last had a Supernova but I can't remember any difference in taste (and my bottle is almost empty). I'll have another dram tonight and I'll let you know what I think of it.

[Whisky1978]

I 've only had supernova once. But what I have experienced is that when I open a certain bottle and sample it a couple of times (at different circumstances) I learn to know the whisky better. Maybe that's what has happened.

[johan brugge]

I agree with what Whisky1978 said. From time to time a whisky can taste a little different. I had a dram of Supernova last night. From what I can remember the first time I opened the bottle it felt like a really heavy hitter but last night it was somewhat more mellow. But then again, maybe my tastebuds had an 'off-day'.

[Ardbeg311]

I wish I could be of more help here agoldf, but I have not yet had a bottle of the Supernova. I will say that I am a bit surprised by your experience. If you were to have asked me what bottle remains remarkably consistent from start to finish I would have said the bottles of Ardbeg. My experience has been that they get every slightly better, by which I mean that wonderfully punchy Ardbeg taste becomes even better intergrated with the Ardbeg sweetness the longer they are opened. But I would not use the term "fading" at all. The punchiness remains and the sweetness gets added on to it. Perhaps this is only a problem with the Supernova? I find your post very interesting because the next Ardbeg in my sights is the Supernova.

[johan brugge]

I hope you don't think I suggested that the Supernova is fading. Like Ardbeg311 mentioned the typical flavours of the Ardbeg whisky get better integrated. You (well, I do) learn to appreciate the whisky much better after a few drams and you discover new flavours too. It's still a full blown peaty whisky but I tasted a bit more sherry notes (which made it 'mellow').

[agoldf]

I would agree that integrating may be a better discription. However, my first experience with the supernova was that it was incredibly "punchy" now it has mellowed. Not necassarily a negative alteration, but one that changed the description of the whisky.

[Plastiquehomme]

My friend has a bottle of Supernova. He first opened it in late June, and I tried it at that point. I had some again last weekend (late September), and 3 months down the track I found it tasted identical to how I remembered it.

[kallaskander]

Hi there,


Whisky Bible 2010.

Category winners:



Scotch Whisky of the Year - Ardbeg Supernova
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple cask) - Ardbeg Supernova

[is there a smiley for yawning?]

Single Malt of the Year (Single cask) - Glenfarclas 1962 (3rd release)
Best Scotch New Brand - Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
Scotch Blend of the Year - Ballentine's 17 Years Old
Scotch Grain of the Year - Duncan Taylor North British 1978

Single Malt Scotch



No Age Statement (Multiple cask) - Ardbeg Supernova
No Age Statement (runner up) - Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
10 Years and Under (Multiple cask) - Octomore 5 Years Old
10 Years and Under (Single cask) - SMWS 7717 (Glen Ord)
11-15 Years Old (Multiple cask) - Tomintoul 14 Years Old
11-15 Years Old (Single cask) - Isle of Arran Sherry 353
16-21 Years Old (Multiple cask) - Glen Grant 1992
16-21 Years Old (Single cask) - Glendronach 1992 Cask 401
22-27 Years Old (Multiple cask) - Brora 25 Years Old 7th Release
22-27 Years Old (Single cask) - Cadenhead's Benriach 23YO
28-34 Years Old (Multiple cask) - Highland Park 30 Years Old
28-34 Years Old (Single cask) - Douglas Laing Glendcadem 32YO
35-40 Years Old (Multiple cask) - Glenglassnaugh 40 Years Old
35-40 Years Old (Single cask) - Whisky Fair Glen Grant 36 YO
41 Years and Over (Multiple cask) - Glenfiddich 50 Years Old
41 Years and Over (Single cask) - Glenfarclas 1962 Release III

Blended Scotch


No Age Statement (Standard) - Ballentine's Finest
No Age Statement (Premium) - The Last Drop
5-12 Years - Johnnie Walker Black Label
13-18 Years - Ballentine's 17 Year Old
18 & Over - Chivas Regal 25 Years Old

Irish Whiskey of the Year - Redbreast Aged 12 Years


American Whiskey


Bourbon of the Year - George T Stagg (144.
Rye of the Year - Sazerac 18 Years Old (Fall 2008)


Bourbon


No Age Statement (Multiple barrel) - Parker's Golden Anniversary
No Age Statement (Single barrel) - Blanton's Single Barrel 316
9 Years & Under - Jim Beam Black Aged 8 Years
10-12 Years - Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
13-17 Years Old (multiple Barrels) - George T Stagg (144.
13-17 Years Old (Single Barrel) - Buffalo Trace Experimental Course Grain
18 Years & Over - Evan Williams 23 Years Old

Rye


10 Years & Younger - Jim Beam Rye
11 Years & Older - Sazerac 18 Years Old (Fall 2008)

Canadian Whisky of the Year - Wiser's Red Letter
Japanese Whisky of the Year - SMWS 116.4 (Yoichi)

European Whisky


European Whisky of the Year - Santis Malt Highlander Dreifaltaigkeit
European Single Cask Whisky of the Year - Penderyn Port Wood Single Cask

World Whiskies


Indian Whisky of the Year - Amrut Fusion



To mark the sheer quality and standard of whisky making around the world Jim Murray has created a new Liquid Gold Award for all whiskies scoring 94 points and above. Representing 10% of all the whiskies featured in the '2010 Whisky Bible' they are, says Murray "the elite; the very finest you can find on whisky shelves around the world. Rare and precious they are liquid gold".

A full account of the 2010 World Whisky Awards can be found in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010 published today (5th October 2009). And with nearly 4000 tasting notes, including 946 of the very latest releases, the 'Whisky Bible' remains the definitive and most up to date guide available.

Published by Dram Good Books priced at £10.99, the '2010 Whisky Bible' is available through online retailer Amazon and other good book stores. Signed copies by the author can be obtained from www from http://www.whiskybible.com.


http://www.whiskyintelligence.com/2009/ ... isky-news/

[Ganga]

Ho hum, maybe it was the first (and only thing) he tasted when judging for the awards.

[Novice Scotch Fan]

Murray's selection of Ardbeg Supernova has raised some eyebrows over the years as Ardbeg have hired him as a consultant from time to time apparently. A little conflict of interest? Wee one? maybe a wee dram of one.

Selection of Balantines NAS as the best standard blend is just baffling.

[AdamMY]

Murray's selection of Ardbeg Supernova has raised some eyebrows over the years as Ardbeg have hired him as a consultant from time to time apparently. A little conflict of interest? Wee one? maybe a wee dram of one.

Selection of Balantines NAS as the best standard blend is just baffling.

I'm having a Balantines Finest right now, and I have to agree its far from great in just about all senses of the word.

[borgom]

I opened a bottle a few weks go and I find that it has faded significantly (though it is stilll quite potent) over the past few weeks. Though it has been opened and shut quite a number of times, it is still over half full. Anyone have this experience?

I've found that the younger peated cask strength whiskies are particularly prone to obvious changes due to oxidisation - some for the better and some for the worse.