Metallica Is Launching a Music-Infused New Whiskey Called ‘Blackened’

The band’s headbanging sounds are literally in every sip.

Sweet Amber Distilling Co.

Metallica fans can now “taste” the band’s signature thrash metal sounds in the form of their innovative new whiskey, Blackened.

The Bay Area rockers collaborated with master spirits distiller Dave Pickerell to create a blend of bourbons, ryes and whiskeys that’s finished using low-hertz frequencies from Metallica’s many headbanging tracks.

Here’s how the recently launched website describes the “sonic enhancement” process: 

After the whiskeys have been combined in the black brandy casks for finishing, they’re jolted back to life by the unmistakable, earth-shattering music of Metallica. Using our proprietary sonic enhancement system BLACK NOISE™, the whiskey is pummeled by sound, causing it to seep deeper into the barrel, where it picks up additional wood flavor characteristics.

(Photo: Courtesy of Blackened)

Pickerell, who’s also an accomplished chemical engineer, explained what the musical treatment does to craft this “Sweet Amber.” 

“This just kicks the finishing process up a notch. The sonic enhancements shake the whiskey molecules to their core. At a low-enough frequency, flavor elements start to work their way out of the barrels and into the blend.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnH_eZagsTI

The result is a multi-layered brown booze that that clocks in at a formidable 45 percent ABV. See the tasting notes below:

Burnt caramel, oak and honey are present on the nose and moderate hints of spice upon first sip.

The flavor of BLACKENED builds with notes of honey, cinnamon, allspice, clove and mint, with unexpected hints of apricot lingering underneath.

Expect a long and smooth finish with slightly creamy hints of butterscotch taffy, maple and honey.

Best of all, buyers can even listen to the songs that shaped each bottle while they sip via playlists curated by major streaming services. 

Blackened, available now for pre-order online, will go on sale for $43 in select markets at the end of September. 

And if you really want to go full-on fanboy, feel free to pre-order one of these awesome Nixon watches decorated with classic Metallica cover art while you’re at it. 

Mentioned in this article: