Moët Hennessy launches Ardbeg Supernova 2014

Ardbeg, the Islay malt whisky has unveiled its third edition of Supernova, a new expression of Ardbeg’s peatiest single malt.

The launch of Supernova 2014 coincides with the return of Ardbeg’s pioneering Space experiment. To celebrate this ground-breaking journey, the distillery will release the whisky fittingly named after a super bright explosion of a star.

A vial of Ardbeg spirit has been orbiting the globe in the International Space Station for the last three years in a mission to decipher the impact gravity has on maturation. The vial will re-enter the earth’s atmosphere on September 12, travelling back in the Soyuz-U Rocket and will land in Kazakhstan. The sample will then be taken to Houston, Texas to be reunited with the test sample from Ardbeg’s warehouse #3 to begin the analysis in the first study of its kind.

The full research findings will be published in 2015 and could prove revolutionary. Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s director of distilling and whisky creation, will lead the research, working alongside US-based space research company NanoRacks LLC. Dr Lumsden states: “We are now close to the end, close to finding answers to something previously unknown, which is truly exciting.”

Previous editions of Supernova have been described as “out of this world” and Supernova 2014 looks set to follow this form. It is bottled at 55% ABV and available from Ardbeg Embassies (mainly independent premium whisky stores) and on Moët Hennessy Selection with an RSP of £124.99. 

29 August 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor