Brent’s Blackened Whiskey Experience at Metallica’s ‘M72 World Tour’ [GALLERY]

Part of my adventures up at MetLife Stadium for Metallica's 'M72 World Tour' this past weekend included a stop for some BLACKENED Whiskey and a Master Distiller Experience.

A group of us got to try some of Metallica's tasty whiskey in both drink and shot form. Meanwhile, BLACKENED Whiskey Master Distiller Rob Dietrich addressed the room telling us more behind the process in crafting BLACKENED Whiskey.

BLACKENED began as a collaborative effort between Metallica and Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. Sadly, Dave passed away in late 2018 shortly after the launch of BLACKENED. In 2019, Master Distiller Rob Dietrich joined the team as Master Distiller & Blender and guardian of Dave’s legacy blend.

BLACKENED is a marriage of the finest bourbons and ryes. Dave Pickerell chose it for the unique flavors that play a key role in the taste of the final spirit. Predominantly bourbon, the sweetness of the bourbon is paired perfectly with the savory spice offered by the rye. Rob Dietrich now oversees all sourcing and blending to match the taste of Dave’s original recipe.

Dave chose to finish the whiskey in black brandy casks. The results give it an added apricot note. It also plays perfectly alongside the honey and caramel tones of the pre-finished whiskey.

Part of the creation of BLACKENED Whiskey involves playing specific Metallica songs at a lower volume to send vibrations through the barrels. They call it "sonic enhancement," which is the process of using certain soundwave frequencies to affect the spirit inside the barrel.

When applied properly, the soundwaves actually cause the movement of the barrel and the liquid inside. This movement increases the interaction between the liquid and the barrel, resulting in a deeper penetration of the spirit into the wood.

A few years ago, Metallica & BLACKENED Whiskey released a limited-edition boxset to commemorate their 100th Batch. The boxset came with whiskey and a double vinyl LP of the Metallica songs used to create the 100th Batch.

To coincide with the release of Metallica's brand-new album 72 Seasons, BLACKENED has also released a limited edition 72 Seasons edition of the whiskey which you can find here.