Blackened 'Rye The Lightning' Double Cask Rye Whiskey
(750 ml) [WA 93, #14 Top 20 Of 2022]

About the Distiller:

A Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Double Cask Finished in Madeira and Rum Casks

The first-of-its-kind collaboration of Hall Of Fame Master Distiller Dave Pickerell (WhistlePig, Hillrock) and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame rock group Metallica.

Crafted from Kentucky straight rye whiskeys aged between 5-8 years and hand-selected by Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich.

It is during the rum cask finishing that the whiskey undergoes the proprietary BLACK NOISE™ sonic enhancement process that uses the low hertz frequencies from Metallica’s music to vibrate the barrels, causing a greater interaction between the whiskey and the wood, forcing the liquid further into the barrel and extracting more flavor and color. 

TASTING NOTES

The double cask finishing results in notes of dried fig, hay, pinewood, pear, and rum cake on the nose, and on the palate, clover honey, mint, corn husk, sugar cane, walnut, and cinnamon.

45% ABV | 90 PROOF

Awards/Reviews:

Best Finished Whiskey Of 2022 - Breaking Bourbon

"Blackened Rye The Lightning’s complex yet subtle sip is rich with flavors, ranging from raisin to molasses, brown sugar to hazelnut, and dark fruit to light citrus, all of which rest upon a pleasing rye backbone. This edition is quite satisfying, striking a nice balance between price, complexity, and crowd pleasing intensity."

93 Points, #14, Whisky Advocate Top 20 Of 2022

"This whiskey, a spring 2022 release from Metallica and master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich, hits hard up front with an herbal and spicy nose. Fennel, anise cookies, and dank grains give way to dandelion and sweet grapes when water is added. The palate is crisp and spicy, showing great balance between the whiskey itself and the cask finishing. Lightning strikes again on the finish, which is extremely long and ties the entire sip together. More spice, more fruit, just more."

"Earthy notes of dried grass, clover, walnut and leaher. The palate is softer at first, but crescendos into a strong lingering finish of sweet tea and mint, with a tingling menthol sensation on the tongue. This was a wonderfully complex whiskey that kept opening up every time I went back to it." - The Whiskey Wash