Created in collaboration with Willett Distillery, Blackened's new series launches with the Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks
Blackened American Whiskey has announced the launch of its new Masters of Whiskey Series, beginning with the release of its Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks.
This new expression is the result of a collaboration between Blackened’s master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich and Willett Distillery’s master distiller Drew Kulsveen. At the core of this new series is the nature of collaboration, which began between master distiller Dave Pickerell and Metallica.
The BLACKENED x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks starts with a base of low rye and high rye whiskey recipes that were hand-picked by Rob and Drew, from the Willett Family Estate Reserve Selection. The two tasted and experimented with a number of whiskeys before landing on the recipes that would create the perfect flavor profile. Aged for an average of 6.5 years in white American oak casks, the complexity of the whiskey balances perfectly. After the rye whiskeys are married together, they are finished in Madeira casks for up to 14 weeks. Madeira is a fortified wine made on the Portuguese Madeira islands and receives its unique taste from repeatedly heating the wine.
During finished, the whiskey undergoes the proprietary BLACK NOISETM sonic enhancement process in which the finished barrels are pummeled by the low hertz frequencies of Metallica’s music. The sound waves visibly shake the finished barrels, causing a greater interaction between the whiskey and the wood, thereby extracting more flavors and colors.
The 11-track playlist for the BLACK NOISETM process was chosen by both Rob and Drew and sequenced by Metallica Co-founder and Drummer, Lars Ulrich.
Rob Dietrich and Drew Kulsveen with Blackened's new expression
The full playlist includes:
“We couldn’t think of a more impactful first release for the series than a collaboration with Willett Distillery,” said Rob. “I wanted the first expression in the series to be a rye, and as a huge fan of Willett and everything they produce, I felt it was the obvious first choice. I couldn’t be more honored to work with Drew and the great team at Willett Distillery. Our connections to Dave brought everything full circle, and when I was working with Drew and the Kulsveens, it was almost like being welcomed back. I’m extremely excited by what we’ve accomplished, and I hope our fans and the whiskey enthusiasts of the world will enjoy this whiskey as much as Drew and I have!”
“We are thrilled to congratulate Rob and the Blackened team on this inaugural release of what will certainly be a unique series of whiskeys,” said Drew Kulsveen. “Frankly, I have had a good time collaborating with Rob on this project. We realized early on that we both shared a vision for the flavor we hoped to achieve in the blend and we are eager to share what we have come up with.”
Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks is available in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $139.99. It is the first in the brand’s new “Masters of Whiskey Series,” which will feature new collaborations and unique expressions for years to come.
To purchase online, find local retailers, or gather more information, visit Blackened American Whiskey’s website.
Blackened American Whiskey has announced the launch of its new Masters of Whiskey Series, beginning with the release of its Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks.
This new expression is the result of a collaboration between Blackened’s master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich and Willett Distillery’s master distiller Drew Kulsveen. At the core of this new series is the nature of collaboration, which began between master distiller Dave Pickerell and Metallica.
The BLACKENED x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks starts with a base of low rye and high rye whiskey recipes that were hand-picked by Rob and Drew, from the Willett Family Estate Reserve Selection. The two tasted and experimented with a number of whiskeys before landing on the recipes that would create the perfect flavor profile. Aged for an average of 6.5 years in white American oak casks, the complexity of the whiskey balances perfectly. After the rye whiskeys are married together, they are finished in Madeira casks for up to 14 weeks. Madeira is a fortified wine made on the Portuguese Madeira islands and receives its unique taste from repeatedly heating the wine.
During finished, the whiskey undergoes the proprietary BLACK NOISETM sonic enhancement process in which the finished barrels are pummeled by the low hertz frequencies of Metallica’s music. The sound waves visibly shake the finished barrels, causing a greater interaction between the whiskey and the wood, thereby extracting more flavors and colors.
The 11-track playlist for the BLACK NOISETM process was chosen by both Rob and Drew and sequenced by Metallica Co-founder and Drummer, Lars Ulrich.
The full playlist includes:
- For Whom The Bell Tolls
- Master of Puppets
- King Nothing
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
- Dyers Eve (Remastered)
- Broken, Beat & Scarred
- The Thing That Should Not Be
- Atlas, Rise!
- Of Wolf and Man
- One (Remastered)
- Enter Sandman
“We couldn’t think of a more impactful first release for the series than a collaboration with Willett Distillery,” said Rob. “I wanted the first expression in the series to be a rye, and as a huge fan of Willett and everything they produce, I felt it was the obvious first choice. I couldn’t be more honored to work with Drew and the great team at Willett Distillery. Our connections to Dave brought everything full circle, and when I was working with Drew and the Kulsveens, it was almost like being welcomed back. I’m extremely excited by what we’ve accomplished, and I hope our fans and the whiskey enthusiasts of the world will enjoy this whiskey as much as Drew and I have!”
“We are thrilled to congratulate Rob and the Blackened team on this inaugural release of what will certainly be a unique series of whiskeys,” said Drew Kulsveen. “Frankly, I have had a good time collaborating with Rob on this project. We realized early on that we both shared a vision for the flavor we hoped to achieve in the blend and we are eager to share what we have come up with.”
Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks is available in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $139.99. It is the first in the brand’s new “Masters of Whiskey Series,” which will feature new collaborations and unique expressions for years to come.
To purchase online, find local retailers, or gather more information, visit Blackened American Whiskey’s website.
