ABOUT BLACKENED

A MASTERFUL
COLLABOrATION

BLACKENED began as a collaborative effort between Metallica and Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. Sadly, Dave passed away in late 2018, shortly after the launch of BLACKENED. In 2019, Master Distiller Rob Dietrich joined the team as Master Distiller & Blender, and guardian of Dave’s legacy blend. As unapologetic masters of craft in their respective fields, they’ve built world-renowned legacies by carving out new spaces and bringing their singular, incendiary perspectives to everything they touch. Unlikely collaborators on the surface, their shared creative fire and dedication to craft make them anything but. Together, they’ve created BLACKENED – an unconventional whiskey of uncompromising quality.

MEET ROB DIETRICH, OUR MASTER DISTILLER

Rob Dietrich joined the BLACKENED family in 2019, taking the helm as Master Distiller & Blender in Dave’s passing. He serves as both the guardian of Dave’s original recipe as well as brand steward moving into the future. He’s widely known for his ability to fuse traditional distilling methods with unique artistry.

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WHAT MAKES OUR WHISKEY DIFFERENT?

A BLEND OF
BOURBONS AND RYES

BLACKENED is a marriage of the finest bourbons and ryes, chosen by Dave Pickerell for the unique flavors that play a key role in the taste of the final spirit. Predominantly bourbon, the sweetness of the bourbon is paired perfectly with the savory spice offered by the rye. Rob Dietrich now overseas all sourcing and blending to match the taste of Dave’s original recipe.

THE FINISHING

By resting the whiskey in the barrel of another spirit during the maturation phase, the whiskey picks up some of the unique, residual flavors left behind in the barrel. For BLACKENED, we finish the whiskey in black brandy casks. The result is an added apricot note that plays perfectly alongside the honey and caramel tones of the pre-finished whiskey. After the whiskeys have been combined in the black brandy casks for finishing, they’re jolted back to life by the unmistakable, music of Metallica. Using our proprietary BLACK NOISE™ sonic-enhancement process, the whiskey is pummeled by low-hertz soundwaves which force the whiskey deeper into the wood of the barrel, where it picks up additional wood flavor characteristics.

THE EXPERIENCE

The process the whiskey undergoes is intense; the flavor is anything but. The spirit has a warm, honey-amber color. Burnt caramel, oak and honey are present on the nose, with moderate hints of spice upon first taste. The flavor builds with notes of honey, cinnamon, allspice, clove and mint, with unexpected apricot lingering underneath. Expect a long and smooth finish with slightly creamy hints of butterscotch taffy, maple and honey.

Full Speed Or Nothing

What makes us different?

No Gimmicks. All Science.

Black noise sonic enhancement

BLACK NOISE™ is a sonic-enhancement process produces low hertz sound waves causing the whiskey to reverberate at a fast rate, interacting with the oak staves of the barrel, measurably releasing wood compounds and flavors like toasted coconut, vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel.

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Layering & Enhancing Flavors

Remastered and cask finished

Remastering whiskey means layering flavors during blending and enhancing the base through cask-finishing, while using our BLACK NOISE sonic enhancement to extract more flavor, resulting in a one-of-a-kind Blackened taste.

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The Best Or Nothing

Created with Metallica’s
Standards

Metallica approached whiskey-making the same way they’ve always approached music pushing to create something original and better. They work only with collaborators who share their uncompromising commitment to quality and pour their souls into it until they’ve made something that’s truly special.

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Please Enjoy Responsibly

BLACKENED® A Blend Of Straight Whiskeys Finished In Black Brandy Casks

Bottled By Sweet Amber Distilling Co., Mineville, NY 45% Alc./Vol. Copyright ©2021 Sweet Amber Ventures, Inc.

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