This pairing puts BLACKENED's core expression alongside the first cask strength bottling the brand ever released, and taken together they show exactly what the finishing process does to a whiskey when the proof is left alone. Both start from the same place: a blend of straight bourbons and straight ryes, married and then finished in black brandy casks, with the label carrying the signature of the late Dave Pickerell, who created BLACKENED in collaboration with Metallica. During finishing the casks undergo BLACK NOISE, the brand's proprietary sonic enhancement process, in which low hertz frequencies drawn from a Metallica playlist are pumped into the barrels to keep the liquid moving against the wood and increase contact with it. The core BLACKENED is bottled at 45 percent alcohol by volume, or 90 proof, and is the rounder and more approachable of the two, running caramel, vanilla and dried fruit into honey, baking spice and dark fruit with rye pepper through the middle. Batch 01 of the Cask Strength Limited Edition is the same whiskey left undiluted, and the difference is not subtle. Everything the black brandy casks contributed arrives with far more intensity, the texture thickens considerably, and the dark fruit and oak that sit politely in the background of the core bottle move to the front. Tasting the two side by side is the clearest demonstration available of how much proofing down changes a finished whiskey. As the debut cask strength release, Batch 01 also carries genuine significance for anyone collecting the brand.
ABV / Proof
| Size |
2 x 750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Producer |
Sweet Amber Distilling Co. |
| Category |
Blend of Straight Whiskeys |
| Bundle Contents |
1 x BLACKENED American Whiskey 750ml; 1 x BLACKENED Cask Strength Limited Edition Batch 01 750ml |
| BLACKENED American Whiskey ABV |
45% |
| BLACKENED American Whiskey Proof |
90 |
| Cask Strength Batch 01 ABV |
[ABV]% — read from bottle |
| Cask Strength Batch 01 Proof |
[PROOF] — read from bottle |
| Finish |
Black brandy casks |
| Process |
BLACK NOISE sonic enhancement during finishing |
| Created By |
Dave Pickerell, in collaboration with Metallica |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber, with the cask strength bottle noticeably darker.
Nose: Caramel and vanilla across both, with dried fruit and brandy sweetness underneath. The cask strength shows more concentrated dark fruit and oak.
Palate: The core bottle is rounded and full, with honey, dark fruit and baking spice over rye pepper. The cask strength carries the same profile with markedly greater intensity and a thicker texture.
Finish: Warm and smooth on the core expression, considerably longer and more powerful undiluted.
FAQ
Q: What does this bundle include?
A: One bottle of BLACKENED American Whiskey at 90 proof and one bottle of BLACKENED Cask Strength Limited Edition Batch 01.
Q: What makes Batch 01 significant?
A: It is the first cask strength release BLACKENED produced, which gives it particular interest for anyone collecting the brand.
Q: Is it the same whiskey in both bottles?
A: Both are blends of straight whiskeys finished in black brandy casks. The core expression is proofed down to 90; the cask strength is bottled undiluted, which changes the intensity and texture considerably.
Q: What is BLACK NOISE?
A: The brand's proprietary sonic enhancement process, in which low hertz frequencies from a Metallica playlist are pumped into the finishing casks.
Q: Is this a bourbon or a rye?
A: Neither on its own. Both bottles are labelled a blend of straight whiskeys, combining straight bourbon and straight rye.
Q: Where can I buy the BLACKENED bundle online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
