Historie

BLACKENED Whiskey originated as a collaboration between Metallica and the legendary distiller and blender Dave Pickerell. Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich now oversees all aspects of production and ensures uncompromising quality. The brand is described as a collaboration that elevates whiskey to a new form of musical precision, with Metallica contributing their demand for originality and high quality.

Produktion / Fremstilling

Remastering and Cask Finishing: BLACKENED shapes its unique profile through remastering the whiskey and aging it in new casks that previously contained another spirit or wine (brand partnerships). Remastering focuses on building body and complexity through cask finishing, which adds extra wood character to the spirit.

THE ART OF BLENDING: Blending is regarded as an art form at BLACKENED. The selection and combination of components are driven by flavor nuances and collaborations between bourbon- and rye-whiskeys from North America, which are then carefully blended by the Master Blender to create a balanced profile.

CONSTANT QUALITY: Although blends naturally evolve over time, BLACKENED is committed to the highest quality and consistency in flavor. Most whiskies are aged for at least 4 years in new American white oak before bottling.

SONIC-ENHANCEMENT: BLACK NOISE is used to intensify the interaction between casks and whiskey through low-frequency sound waves, adding additional wood character to the spirit.

TO AGING: The original expression undergoes a finish in brandy casks, which yields notes of dark fruits that harmonize with honey and caramel notes from the blend.

Produkter / Whisky-serien

BLACKENED is a blend of straight whiskeys finished in brandy casks (45% Alc./vol.). In addition to the basic BLACKENED blend, the series includes collaborations under Masters of Whiskey, where other Kentucky straight rye or bourbon finishes have been developed in partnerships: - Rye finish in Madeira cask (Willett Distillery) – notes of cinnamon, butter, and dark walnut at the finish. - Bourbon finish in white Port cask (Angel’s Envy Co-Founder Wes Henderson) – bourbon with a port wine signature. - Kentucky straight bourbon in Calvados apple brandy cask finish (Rabbit Hole Distillery) – a complex tasting experience.

BLACKENED production takes place in Columbus, OH, where Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich oversees all sourcing, blending, and cask finishing. It is also noted that whiskey releases may include products that use bourbon and rye as base ingredients in their blends.

Besøg / Oplevelser

Although there aren’t many details about visits, Blackened's engagement is described through live signings of bottles by Metallica members and the BLACKENED Master Distiller & Blender at stores or events. Keep an eye on their social media for updates on signings and events.

Filosofi

BLACKENED emphasizes artistic blending combined with technological innovations such as sonic-enhancement (BLACK NOISE) to broaden the whiskey's wood character and complexity. They stress an uncompromising approach to quality, pursue a rich and consistently evolving flavor profile, and produce the whiskey in Columbus, Ohio, with gluten-free production in mind. Their communication also emphasizes that they benefit from a strong collaboration between Metallica and carefully selected blending experts to achieve a unique tasting experience that sets BLACKENED apart from other whiskey brands.