About BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey
If you’re a fan of the legendary rock band of the 80s, Metallica, you might be familiar with the BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey. That’s because this bourbon-rye blend whiskey’s flavors were enhanced by the reverberating rock music of Metallica.
That’s not just a figure of speech — BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey is a fusion of age-old whiskey making and modern sound engineering.
Does Metallica Own BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey?
The Metallica band is a co-founder of the Sweet Amber Distilling Company — a joint venture with Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. Unfortunately, in that same year shortly after its launch in 2018, Pickerell passed away.
On his stead is Rob Dietrich who joined the company in 2019. He now leads the production of BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey with Pickerell’s original recipe and his established sonic-enhancement process. Behind every whiskey is a unique Metallica playlist that enhances the finishing flavors.
How is BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey Made?
The BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey is a blend between the sweeter bourbon (predominantly) and the spicier rye whiskey. The spirit is matured in black brandy casks for about 8+ years, resulting in honey and caramel tones with apricot notes.
But what makes BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey unique is the sonic-enhancement process they call BLACK NOISETM. This process couldn’t be made possible without Meyer Sound. They are known for their remarkable technology in audio design and engineering.
From working with Metallica for years in bringing out a resonant live concert experience, now the sound frequencies are applied to whiskey-making. Low-hertz soundwaves influence the whiskey to absorb more of the flavors from the wood barrel through sound engineering.
How Much Does BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey Cost?
Their flagship product is the 90-proof (45% ABV) whiskey, but they also have cask strength products at 109.6 proof (54.8%) and 113.07 proof (56.5%) if you prefer higher alcohol content.
Then, there are also limited edition batches which are only capped at 5,000 bottles. And there are gift sets perfect for giveaways.
How Good is BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey?
From the name itself and Metallica’s reputation of hard rock, you’ll likely imply that this whiskey is dark and smoky. But, its warm amber appearance gives away a hint that it has a sweet fruity flavor that tastes a bit tangy — although relatively watered down compared to the nose.
The whiskey comes out smelling like oak and honey, tasting flavors of honey, cinnamon, allspice, dark fruit, clove, and mint. Lastly, there’s a creamy finish of butterscotch taffy, maple, and honey. With its pricing, this whiskey can be placed in the upper-middle category of American whiskeys.
If you’re thinking about calories, a shot of BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey is equivalent to 110 calories and no net carbs. The taste and flavoring are quite limited, but it’s compensated for by Metallica collectibles and playlists.
Where Can You Order BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey?
It is widely coveted by Metallica (or any rock band) fans and whiskey enthusiasts. But you can’t buy directly from Sweet Amber Distilling Company. You can order online or buy one from your nearest retailer.
How To Order Online
It is available for shipping across the U.S. through Cask Cartel, Craftshack, ReserveBar, and SpiritedGifts. Alternatively, you can order and have your whiskey delivered by Drizly and Instacart.
How To Find Nearest Retailer
Just enter your zip code in their location finder to find your nearest store that’s convenient for you. Make sure to call the shop first to check if there are available stocks.
BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey Prices
| Item | Alcohol (ABV) | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey | 45% (90 proof) | 375ml | $28.99 |
| 750ml | $39.99 | ||
| BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey 50-mL Mini Pack | 45% (90 proof) | 50 mL, 15 pcs | $89.99 |
| BLACKENEDⓇ x Willet | 54.8% (109.6 proof) | 750ml | $159.49 |
| The Black Album Whiskey Pack (Batch 114) | 45% (90 proof) | 750ml | $159.99 |
| BLACKENEDⓇ Batch 112 Cask Strength | 56.5% (113.07 proof) | 750ml | $59.99 |
| BLACKENEDⓇ S&M2 Batch 106 | 45% (90 proof) | 750ml | $399.99 |
| BLACKENEDⓇ Batch 100 Whiskey & Vinyl Box Set | 45% (90 proof) | 750ml | $149.00 |
BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey Buying Guide
Bourbon-and-rye whiskey aged in black brandy casks for 8+ years with a sonic-enhanced finishing process. It is an award-winning spirit that’s been recognized by Platinum Ascot Awards and SIP Awards, among others.
It’s the same adored whiskey but comes in a portable package of fifteen 50-mL bottles perfect for wine tastings and party drinks.
A collaboration with Kentucky distillers from Willet Family Estate Reserve. This is a blend of high and low rye whiskeys that are aged between 6.5 to 8 years and finished in Madeira casks for 14 weeks.
Along with the BLACKENEDⓇ American WhiskeyBatch 114 bottle are collectible items like whiskey coin, Snakeybyte cocktail booklet, and The Black Album box. This item is sold out online, but you can check with your nearby retailers.
A super-premium blend of straight bourbons and ryes selected by Master Distiller & Blender Dietrich.
Another limited edition item featuring Metallica & San Francisco Symphony S&M2 playlist in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s S&M shows. This item is sold out online, but you can check with your nearby retailers.
A perfect gift for a Metallica whiskey-loving fan. With a BLACKENEDⓇ American WhiskeyBatch 114 bottle, you also get 2 limited edition Metallica 12-inch vinyl picture discs, BLACKENED Zine Issue 01, enamel pin, guitar pick, and die-cut vinyl sticker.
The Best Way(s) to Drink BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey
As a sipping whiskey, you can enjoy this one neat (no ice). The nose is appetizing, the taste a bit bland, and the finish good. Typically, whiskeys taste better neat with undisturbed flavors. However, it seems like the opposite is true with BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey.
On the rocks, the flavors are more enhanced. The previously bland taste when taken neat, tastes brighter with ice. The bitter finish is more subtle now as it’s overpowered by the sweet apple taste with hints of caramel and vanilla notes.
To make things more interesting, you can also mix BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey into cocktails such as
- Old Fashioned — mix BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey with sugar syrup, Angostura bitters, orange essence, and drop in a Maraschino cherry.
- Whiskey Sour — a silky smooth cocktail consisting of BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey with egg whites, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Angostura bitters. Garnished with Maraschino cherry.
- Presbyterian — if you’re fond of ginger, this cocktail is right up your alley. Mix BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey with ginger ale, club soda, orange essence, garnished with ginger or citrus.
FAQs
Alternatives to BLACKENEDⓇ American Whiskey
BLACKENEDⓇ is more than just American whiskey. It’s quite irreplaceable because of its unique sonic-enhanced final aging and branding with Metallica. But when it comes to taste, you can find other bourbon-rye blend American whiskeys:
- Wild Turkey Forgiven — this 91-proof bourbon and rye whiskey blend was a pleasant surprise. When they accidentally mixed 6-year old bourbon (78%) and 4-year old rye (22%), all was “forgiven” as the Master Distiller decided it was worth bottling. It is woody on the nose, has a creamy chocolate taste with subtle spice, and the red pepper finish adds a final kick.
- High West Bourye Whiskey — from its name, this is a blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskies that are aged at least 10 years. The nose can get swamped with vanilla, caramel, and a complex mix of fruits. The taste is quite thick with notes of cinnamon and allspice, among others. Finally, you can distinguish cinnamon, clove, allspice, and rye spice in the finish.
- The Hilhaven Lodge — aside from bourbon and rye whiskeys, this also has a Tennessee Whiskey for the trifecta. It is less alluring in the nose and taste, but it gets interesting in the finish with the cinnamon and pepper spice. It’s a good sipping whiskey because of its lower alcohol content.