Whisky: Blackened
Producer: Sweet Amber Distilling Company
Distillery: Undisclosed
Whisky Type: A Blend of Straight Whiskies (Batch 123)
Region: N/A
Age: NAS
ABV: 45%
Cask: New Charred Oak, ex-Black Brandy Casks
Price Range: $

BLACKENED is a brand of American Whiskey that resulted from a collaboration between the hard rock band Metallica and Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. A renowned industry expert who served for 14 years as Master Distiller of Maker’s Mark before opening his own consulting company, Oak View Spirits.

Among many things, Dave specialized in barrel finishing and was considered an expert in the industry and a pioneer of the craft distilling movement. He helped companies such as Whistle Pig launch innovative whiskies that are very popular today. Dave passed away in 2018 and Rob Dietrich became the Master Distiller & Blender of BLACKENED American Whiskey in 2019.

BLACKENED launched in 2018 and is classified as a blend of straight whiskies finished in Brandy casks. More specifically, straight bourbons, ryes, & whiskeys from distilleries across North America. The blend is made of predominantly bourbon.

After the whiskeys enter the black brandy casks for finishing, the blend is subject to low-frequency sound waves, a proprietary process known as Black Noise to allow deeper penetration of the whiskey into the wood.

From the BLACKENED website

“Metallica and Meyer Sound innovated a subwoofer employing that same range, harnessing the vibrations that make a Metallica concert the resonant, visceral experience their fans know and love. The convergence of these ambitions has resulted in a sonic-enhancement method that utilizes a variation of the band’s song-determined frequencies to disrupt the whiskey inside the barrel, causing increased wood interaction that kicks up the wood-flavor in the whiskey. We call this proprietary sonic-enhancement process BLACK NOISE™.”

Tasting Notes for Blackened

Nose: An elegant nose of caramel, fruits from the brandy, vanilla, and spices.

Palate: Sweet arrival of caramel with cinnamon and spicy flavors. Also, a subtle and pleasant note of oak. The brandy note is in the background now, but still noticeable. The flavors are in balance.

Finish: Medium with lots of fruits, cinnamon, and oak spices.  

Conclusion: The nose is the highlight of the experience. From nose to finish, the aromas and flavors are consistent and enjoyable. The brandy influence is noticeable and provides the secret weapon to this blend because it adds depth to a whiskey that would otherwise be a traditional American Whiskey. Not a bad option for $50 if you like your American Whiskey with a twist. For fans of Metallica, this is a no-brainer. Cheers!

Check more on Bourbon and American whiskey here.

Score: 3.75/5 ⭐

Legend

$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$