Brand Known for Smoky Scotch Hails Latest Release as ‘Without a Doubt’ Its Smokiest Whisky Ever

Ardbeg Hypernova

Ardbeg Hypernova is available exclusively for members of the Adrbeg Committee. (Photo: Ardbeg)

Islay-based distillery Ardbeg has a reputation for smoky, peat-stuffed whiskies, but its latest release puts its previous ones to shame in that category, according to the brand.

Ardbeg Hypernova, which is available exclusively for members of the Ardbeg Committee, was unveiled this week.

“This is without a doubt the smokiest Ardbeg ever,” Dr. Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg director of distilling and whisky creation, said, according to The Spirits Business. “We wanted to really push the boundaries this time and boldly go where Ardbeg has never ventured before. A hypernova is a collapsing star explosion so powerful it threatens the fabric of the galaxy – while I don’t think this whisky will tear a hole in space and time, it’s certainly bursting with fantastically peaty flavour.”

According to The Spirits Business, Ardbeg Hypernova contains 170ppm (parts per millions) on the peat scale. In general, whiskies over 30 ppm are considered “heavily peated.”

The most heavily peated whisky ever recorded is Bruichladdich’s Octomore 8.3, which contains 309 ppm.

Bottled at 51% ABV, Ardbeg Hypernova is available for a suggested retail price of £190 ($211). A “small number of bottles” will be available from the distillery, per The Spirits Business.

“Hypernova turns on the afterburners and hauls our spirit into smoky new depths,” said Colin Gordon, Ardbeg distillery manager. “Highly experimental, this whisky is peaty and intense, with a taste that’s totally surreal. This spirit is not just a slice of Ardbeg history, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event – not to be missed.”

Earlier this month, Ardbeg announced the launch of its Smoketrails collection of single malts available exclusively at travel retail locations and the Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Center.

In August, Ardbeg released a Sci-Fi graphic novel based on the origin stories of its whiskies.

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David Morrow is a whiskey critic and the Editor In Chief of The Daily Pour and has been with the company since 2021. David has worked in journalism since 2015 and has had bylines at Sports Illustrated, Def Pen, the Des Moines Register and the Quad City Times. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Saint Louis University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. When he’s not tasting the newest exciting beverages, David enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, watching sports, traveling and checking out breweries.