Ardbeg HYPERNOVA! Reviewing the PEATIEST Ardbeg Ever!

[@silverlochwhiskyreviews6157]

I used to love Ardbeg. Their marketing and pricing strategy, perhaps driven by LVMH, has done a disservice to their most loyal customers. I have some of their older stock which I do enjoy from time to time but haven't been buying anything in the last couple of years. It just feels plain wrong to buy their stuff anymore.

[@MaltActivist]

I hear you brother. It's that old juice that keeps us hooked ! But I do like some of the newer stuff like the 19 and the 8. I thought SmokeTrails wasn't too bad (great value at £65!). From the Festival releases the Dark Coveis quite good as is the Scorch, in my opinion. I think they've released more good than bad of late but all you need is one overpriced clunker to ruin everything #hypernova!

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Thank you for reviewing this 🥃Had this 2 days ago in a very accomplished whisky bar and me and the managers all agreed that it was very underwhelming and we'd get the 10 every day against this. Sad that Ardbeg, amongst many other distilleries are focusing more on marketing rather than producing decent drams. Cool if you're filling a set but other than that no need to get this I completely agree. Question; did they use Islay peat at least or are we drinking the first Ardbeg which uses mainland peat? Is that why the flavours are a bit subdued? Port Charlotte 10 uses mainland peat and it always gives me herbal, tea and mulch notes rather than medicinal and iodine. Do you know the answer to this?

[@MaltActivist]

That's an interesting point re mainland vs islay peat/barley. I don't know if Ardbeg has ever used mainland peat and this might be the first time. We could be losing some of the traditional maritime notes thanks to that. I think it's subdued because it's not a high enough strength in my opinion. I think we needed something in the late 50s ABV to really amp up the delivery.

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

@@MaltActivist Yeah I agree with the abv, why not make it Corry levels if it's such a special release?! If they couldn't be bothered with sending Islay barley to mainland, I don't think they would've sent the peat but who knows.

[@MaltActivist]

@@thewhiskyenthusiast I don't think it was that they weren't bothered I think the cost was too high or as they like to position it - "too big of a carbon footprint"

[@ChrisARC]

I’m lost as to why Ardbeg 10 is so highly regarded. I’ve had it once and it didn’t hold a candle to Laphroaig 10, much less Lagavulin 16 or Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak. How do the Ugeideal or Corry compare with those? I’ve always been interested in those two offerings.

[@MaltActivist]

@@ChrisARC To each their own I suppose but I genuinely think the Ardbeg 10 is absolute class. Try the newer batches - you'll really dig em.

[@gewatzig123]

I just bought a bottle today and I'm trying it right now... already it's the smokiest and sweetest Ardbeg I've ever tasted! Cheers! 🥃

[@MaltActivist]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@skeletonmakesgood]

Outstanding review and a brutally honest rant on what appears to be perhaps your favorite distillery. Very much appreciated! You have a new subscriber.

[@MaltActivist]

Much appreciated! Welcome to the gang!

[@justwhisky]

It doesn’t matter anymore what’s in the bottle. It’s all about the marketing and the story and the graphics …and let’s not forget the collectibility and potential investment. Move over “A Night on Earth “ 😂 PT Barnum was right…a sucker born every minute ( me included bro!) Can’t wait to pay over $200 for next years.😮

[@MaltActivist]

We're all suckers here, brother!

[@mortenlund8387]

Once again, thanks for being so honest! Great stories in the beginning and a fair review :)

[@MaltActivist]

Thanks Morten!

[@diegogallo544]

There´s nothing not to like about this video! jajaja. Had fun watching! I also tried this a few weeks ago and totally agree with you... still love Adbeg though!

[@MaltActivist]

Diego, you and me in the same boat brother.

[@djkamy]

I'm a huge Ardbeg fan, gotta say LOVED your rant! It was honest and on the money .

[@MaltActivist]

Cheers!

[@Piface2099]

LVMH ran the analytics and saw whiskey demand rising alongside travel industry recovery and said boys, step up those NAS rare pokemkn cards! Bottle up what you got and make it work!

[@MaltActivist]

You're probably right!

[@JohanWahlstrom-dd8sn]

I did`t get a Hypernova, The realise was over the Web and took 2 seconds to sell out. The price whas 2099 swedish kronor or 165 Brittish Pounds. Thanks! for your onesty on the flavor and taste. Im feel lucky that i did not get it and for a NAS Whisky it`s to expensive. Supernova 2009 and 2010 was no problem to buy back then, So got 3 unopened bottles to enjoy. After this 2 release i have not managed to buy any one of the others Supernovas..

[@MaltActivist]

I quite like a the 14, 15 and 19 - all good whiskies. But this one.... nope.

[@WhiskeyQuests]

I too love my steak like I like my Ardbeg. But I’m also cheap and would have passed on this bottle too that’s way too much for me considering it doesn’t have a few things I look for when spending that much. Either a nice age statement or a good ABV to justify the price 🤷🏻‍♂️. Cheers man thanks for taking one for the team 🤙🥃

[@MaltActivist]

That's what I'm here for brother!

[@Posterharpua]

still my favorite is Uiegeadail. I have Scorch and Hypernova and I prefer Hypernova of those two. regardless, I don't think I'll be paying $250 again for anything from Ardbeg that isn't cask strength, at the bare minimum. I'm happy to drink the hypernova and scorch, but why would i get excited for those when a readily available Uiegeadail exists for less than $90 USD?

[@MaltActivist]

Fair point brother!

[@christinecamley]

Yes!! Your rant is right on! Thanks so much! Terrific video!! Cheers!! 🙂

[@MaltActivist]

Thank you kindly

[@LitoCortes]

I love Ardbeg but it's getting harder for me to justify getting special releases at those prices 🤷🏻‍♂️ specially when the ones I've gotten do not blow me away. I'll still stick with Corry and Uigeadail.

[@1stMemberEver]

Same here, I haven't bought special releases since 2016. Sadly, Uigeadail quality has gone seriously down too.

[@MaltActivist]

Sadly, I have to agree though I wish they'd do something to fix the drop in quality of the Corry & Oogy.

[@ralphballon1539]

It's an integrity malt. I just bought a bottle, I know it's not going to be chill filtered . That color is natural, there's no bs they make good malts, and nothing wrong with being a fanboy of that.

[@MaltActivist]

I just wish it didn't cost £185 !!!

[@SpookySSBM]

Tried this next to Octomore 13.4 and it's not even close. It feels like every Ardbeg release makes me more of an entrenched Bruichladdich fan

[@MaltActivist]

Not worth the hype my man.

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Ardbeg 10 with fresh oysters. Perfection!

[@MaltActivist]

Perfection indeed!

[@Houman7]

I used to be a big fan of these committee releases but in last few years there’s nothing appealing in my opinion in these expressions to justify 200$+ price tag. They are pretty much all NAS, Ex-bourbon barrels, water down to 51% and lots of marketing. These used to fly off the shelves when whisky boom wasn’t even a thing, now I’ve been seeing this bottle literally everywhere in the last few weeks.

[@MaltActivist]

Look I think Ardbeg do both quite well. Make good whisky and do good marketing. Sometimes they do good marketing for not so good whisky and that hurts.

[@ryanmercer600]

I still like the core bottles, but Ardbeg is making a huge mistake releasing these” committee “ releases that are way underwhelming and overpriced… such a shame.

[@MaltActivist]

I fear you're right, Ryan

[@alfocrown]

Ardbeg: Octomore is marketing BS Also Ardbeg: look at our 170ppm!!!!

[@MaltActivist]

haha

[@JOZoSo.]

We are truly in a special time when people crap on the whisky you drink on Your Own Channel.

[@MaltActivist]

Not sure I understand. I'm simply sharing my honest opinion, that's all.

[@radiantinred]

Flippers don't like it either ..... some have taken a loss.

[@MaltActivist]

oh really?

[@teddyballgame25]

Shame. The narrative is out on these special releases and I was hoping they started to turn that around. I can wait.

[@MaltActivist]

I wish they had stopped at the SN2019 honestly. There was no need for this one.

[@fabiolafermi]

i am not an ardbeg fan, i have two fon fohid ardbeg

[@MaltActivist]

Interesting. I've not tasted that.

[@ryanmercer600]

Don’t make excuses for Ardbeg.. the new management SUCKS! Extortion, they are making their bed and they will have to lie in it? Ardnamurchan is the best model and example for Scotch distillers.

[@MaltActivist]

Not really making excuses - just laying it out there as honestly as possible.