This is the bottle that launched BLACKENED's Masters of Whiskey Series, and it is worth understanding what it actually is, because the name misleads people. Given how BLACKENED normally works, finishing whiskey in black brandy casks, it is easy to assume this is BLACKENED whiskey put into ex Willett barrels. It is the opposite. The liquid is one hundred percent Willett distilled Kentucky straight rye, hand selected from the Willett Family Estate Reserve Selection by BLACKENED master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich alongside Willett's fifth generation master distiller Drew Kulsveen. The two worked through a range of high rye and low rye recipes before settling on a blend averaging six and a half years old and reaching as high as eight. That blend was then married and finished in Madeira casks for up to fourteen weeks. The finishing is where BLACKENED does its own thing. Throughout that period the casks are subjected to BLACK NOISE, the brand's proprietary sonic enhancement process, which pummels the barrels with low hertz frequencies drawn from an eleven track Metallica playlist chosen by Dietrich and Kulsveen and sequenced by Lars Ulrich. The brand itself was founded on a collaboration between Metallica and the late Dave Pickerell. What reaches the glass is sweet simmered rhubarb, brown sugar butter, corn husk, vanilla bean, cigar box and ripe fig on the nose, then buttery caramel and earthy mint across the palate with raspberry sweetness from the Madeira, closing on vanilla, cinnamon butter and dark walnut. Bottled at cask strength and signed by both distillers. Willett estate rye is coveted in its own right; this is that whiskey, finished.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
53.95% |
| Proof |
107.9 (Cask Strength, varies by batch) |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Distillery |
Willett Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Sweet Amber Distilling Co. |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Expression |
BLACKENED x Willett, Masters of Whiskey Series |
| Series |
Inaugural release, Masters of Whiskey Series, August 2021 |
| Age |
Average 6.5 years, up to 8 years |
| Mashbill |
Blend of high rye and low rye recipes, percentages undisclosed |
| Maturation |
White American oak casks |
| Finish |
Madeira casks, up to 14 weeks |
| Process |
BLACK NOISE sonic enhancement during finishing |
| Blenders |
Rob Dietrich and Drew Kulsveen |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with a ruby cast from the Madeira casks.
Nose: Sweet simmered rhubarb and brown sugar butter, with corn husk, vanilla bean, cigar box and ripe fig.
Palate: Mouth warming and symmetrical. Buttery caramel and earthy mint carry a raspberry sweetness from the Madeira, with fresh cut hay behind.
Finish: Long, closing on vanilla, cinnamon butter and dark walnut.
FAQ
Q: Is this BLACKENED whiskey finished in Willett barrels?
A: No. The whiskey is one hundred percent Willett distilled Kentucky straight rye, selected from the Willett Family Estate Reserve Selection and finished in Madeira casks.
Q: What proof is it?
A: This bottle is 107.9 proof, 53.95 percent alcohol by volume. It is bottled at cask strength, so the figure differs between batches.
Q: What is BLACK NOISE?
A: BLACKENED's proprietary sonic enhancement process, which vibrates the finishing casks with low hertz frequencies from a Metallica playlist during maturation.
Q: How old is it?
A: There is no age statement. The blend averages six and a half years, with some whiskey as old as eight.
Q: What is the Masters of Whiskey Series?
A: A BLACKENED series pairing the brand with renowned whiskey makers. This Willett collaboration was the inaugural release in August 2021.
Q: Where can I buy BLACKENED x Willett online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
