Peat lovers, listen up, for Islay Scotch distillery Ardbeg has released a second edition of its Ardbeg Supernova expression. Also (rather less sexily) known as SN2010, the limited edition malt has the same very high peat levels as its 2009 predecessor, but a higher strength of 60.1% abv, giving it deeper, earthier characters.

Imbibe got something different every time with this one – on the nose toasted nuts, hot road tar, sweet coconuty gorse flower and a distinctive comforting note of still-warm ironed and starched cotton. On the palate sweet brown sugar, blackberries, and more peaty tar that drives down the centre of your tongue like a steamroller.

But we have to leave the last word with Ardbeg’s Dr Bill Lumsden: 'With its hot, sizzling and gristy sensations that effervesce and explode on the tongue followed by a powerful peaty punch, this is truly yet another galactic explosion of aromas.' Quite.

News item from Imbibe.com, 29-06-2010