Blackened Whiskey Review in Honor of International Whisk(e)y Day

 

March 27 marks perhaps one of the best made-up holidays of the year — International Whisk(e)y Day. 

Fans around the globe raise a glass of their favorite pour of whiskey on this momentous occasion. In honor of the day, I am reviewing Blackened, a whiskey created by the legendary heavy metal band Metallica. 

Sometimes these distilled spirits that are labeled by a celebrity or group get dismissed. But considering how hard Metallica rocks, I’ve wanted to try this whiskey since it was released. 

As much as I love Metallica and do trust their taste in whiskey, my interest in Blackened was piqued by Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich. While Metallica and late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell launched the brand in 2018, Dietrich joined in 2019 parting ways with Stranahan’s where he worked under the legendary distiller Jess Graber.

For anyone who has never heard of the famed Stranahan’s limited-release cask-finished Snowflake whiskeys, check them out. They are liquid works of art. So when I heard that Blackened had hired Dietrich, I knew that Blackened was going to be good. 

I was not disappointed. Blackened is a blend of North American straight bourbons finished in black brandy casks. The barrels are sonically enhanced using a proprietary BLACK NOISE process of low-hertz frequencies of Metallica’s music. 

According to the distillery, this process causes greater interaction between the whiskey and the wood, thus extracting more flavor. 

I’m not sure how much this impacts the final product, but each batch features its own unique playlist usually selected by the members of Metallica. 

As far as whiskey origin stories go, this one is pretty unique. Blackened was kind enough to send me a bottle to test out. So without further ado let’s turn it up to 11 and pop the cork!   

Whiskey: Blackened

Distillery: Sweet Amber Distilling Company

Location: Vermont

Proof: 90

Cost: $49.99

Website: https://blackenedwhiskey.com/

• • Appearance: Despite the name, the whiskey is quite light in color. It pours a pale copper color with a tinge of gold or yellow hue to it.
  • Aroma: The smell is fairly muted, not overpowering at all. It is quite subtle. I detect a sweet plum and pear scent. I also detect some charred smoke and hints of butter. Overall sort of a sweeter scent.
  • Taste: This is where the whiskey comes to life, on the palate. It is brilliantly balanced with dark cherry notes and sweet caramel. The sugars blend with buttery plums and a hint of vanilla. The brandy casks, and perhaps sonic vibrations, come through with a deep complex sweet profile.
  • Finish: The finish is clean drops off pretty quick with some peppery spice lingering. For higher proof, this is very smooth and easy to sip.
  • Overall: Blackened is great whiskey enhanced by the brandy barrel age, which imparts a sweet rich flavor to the whiskey. Dietrich and Metallica have crafted a hit with this whiskey.