P
art of a pioneering research experiment, a vial
of Ardbeg Whisky re-entered the earth’s at-
mosphere on Friday 12 September 2014 after
nearly three years orbiting the globe aboard the
International Space Station. For the first time, the
expedition will allow scientists to decipher the im-
pact gravity has on the whisky maturation process.
Having blasted off from earth in 2011, the spirit,
from the island of Islay in Scotland, has been on
a galactic journey – one destined to change the
whisky industry forever!
Specially designed for the mission, the vial of
Ardbeg orbited the earth’s atmosphere at 17 227
miles per hour, 15 times a day for 1045 days. At
the same time an identical vial had a slightly easier
journey, having been housed at Warehouse 3 at the
Ardbeg Distillery on Islay to act as a control sample.
Now the two samples will be reunited in a
laboratory in Houston, Texas for an experiment re-
searchers believe could change the future of whisky
production. For the first time ever, scientists will
compare the two samples, examining the interac-
tion of the Ardbeg-crafted molecules with charred
oak to document what differences occur between
earth whisky and space whisky.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling
and Whisky Creation, will lead the research, work-
ing alongside Ardbeg’s space partners – US-based
space research company NanoRacks LLC.
Considered one of the leading innovators in the
whisky industry, and a chemist by trade, Dr Lums-
den explained, ‘Ardbeg is known for taking risks in
its development of some of the most coveted whis-
kies in the world, so it is only fitting that it is the
first distillery ever in space. We are now close to
the end and close to finding answers to something
previously unknown, which is truly exciting.
‘This is one small step for man but one giant
leap for whisky. The team hopes to uncover how fla-
vours develop in different gravitational conditions
– findings which could revolutionise the whisky-
making process. We hope to shine new light on the
effect of gravity on the maturation process but who
knows where it will lead us? It could be to infinity
and beyond!’
The single malt landed back on solid ground in
Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz-U rocket on Friday 12
September 2014, before being whisked away to
Houston to begin the analysis of its space odyssey.
The final white paper with the full research findings
will be published in 2015 once testing is completed.
To celebrate Ardbeg’s journey – where no whis-
ky has ever gone before – the distillery is releasing
a new expression of its peatiest single malt: the
sold out, highly sought-after Supernova. Fittingly
named after a super bright explosion of a star, Ar-
dbeg Supernova 2014 is bottled at 55 percent ABV.
Mission control is calling Ardbeg home with
what could be the most gravity-defying new knowl-
edge the whisky world has ever known.
Ground Control to Major Dram
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