Blackened Rye the Lightning (2022 Release)

There's lots of fresh rye grain on the nose, with an impressive spiciness for the relatively low proof. Candied cinnamon and a bit of citrus pop out, with the classic cut grass behind it. A great amount of caramel is also present, which I am guessing comes from the triple barreling of sorts. A light body is what starts off, but the rye grain is present with a sweeter flavor, likely from the rum barrel. There's also a very dry follower, which I attribute to the wine barrels. The gum penetration is moderate here, and the spice level is also moderate, but only because the flavors imparted by the barrels also deliver to an almost equal amount. The finish is pretty hot, but it ultimately ends with a dry finish, which does keep you coming back for more, to refresh the cycle. Maybe it's the music playing (very loudly) behind me, or because this whiskey is both delicious and unique, but I'm quite enjoying this. It's definitely not a front runner of any of my rye favorites, but it also isn't entirely in the rye category, since the Madeira and rum deliver their own flavor notes that definitely do come through. For ~$70, this is way steep, but if this ever dropped below $50, this would easily be both the most metal and layered rye whiskey out there, and created with no other method that can be rivaled by any other distillery, similar to how Metallica cannot be rivaled in their music; if there is such a rival, I definitely need to crank those tracks.

Rating: 14/23 N: It's somewhat oily with hints of dill and mint, plus a sweetness like powdered sugar. There are notes of orange peel, with a rye richness hidden beneath. Faint caramel. Gentle rye spices and faint grains. P: Richer than anticipated, with abundant grain flavor reminiscent of wort, yet it avoids tasting like wort, especially due to a touch of caramel sweetness that's just a bit light and blends with some vanilla. Rye spices with mild herbal notes. A subtle citrus note. F: Clean, with light grains, some spices bringing warmth, faint herbs, faint clean sweetness from water. It's actually quite dull. A long, lingering, faint, floral, herbal, vanilla sweetness. - Conclusion - This is easy to consume. It's pleasant, but not particularly captivating. It's like a rye for those unsure about rye but who also don't want a rye that resembles a bourbon. Russell's Reserve 10 (16/23) is significantly superior to this. This outperforms Red Blooded (10/23). I'm considering a 12 to 14, possibly an 11. Not a 15. I would select a 13 at this moment. It might be a 12, but I'm leaning towards a 13. Revisiting this the following day, I'm leaning more towards a 14. Thanks to the consistently generous for sharing this sample:)

The nose is both distinctive and pleasing, revealing the cask finish with notes of fruit and jam (strawberry, boysenberry), plus wintergreen, caraway, graham cracker, brown sugar, and black tea. The palate offers the tea leaf mentioned in the aroma, alongside some lemongrass, fig, raspberry, and walnut. A touch of mint is also present. It could benefit from some caramel or butterscotch for balance, but unfortunately, that's absent. However, the contrast between the fruity and herbal notes is intriguing. The flavors are reasonably strong for the proof. A medium-length finish delivers more tea, spearmint, white pepper, and tannic oak. The texture is oily and on the lighter side of medium. In summary, while the secondary cask contributes some appealing elements, this is more of an interesting experiment than a resounding success. The intention is understandable, but I found myself consistently wishing for flavors that didn't materialize. Additionally, my personal preference against tea impacts my score, as it's prominent here. At $70, its value is fair, but I'd choose many other ryes in that price range, so I won't be buying it again.

Aroma - The rum is quite evident… notes of brown sugar, rich vanilla, peach, a subtle hint of leather and tobacco leaf. Raisins also come to mind. It's an interesting and distinctive profile. Taste - Echoes the aroma, which is excellent… Brown sugar, vanilla frosting… I detect an interesting fruitiness again with peaches and figs. The rye character is very subtle; I have to search for it. Overall - Is this juice or is this whiskey? It's remarkably smooth and boasts a great balance of flavors. At 90 proof, the finish is non-existent and the consistency is watery (as expected)… BUT……. It's genuinely too light and smooth, and barely tastes like a whiskey. The proof really needs to be increased. I brought this bottle to a birthday party, and it was consumed mostly by people who don't typically drink whiskey lol… There's absolutely no burn.

Tonight's pour arrived on Sunday. It's not yet available in our area. I had to place a pre-order for this one. It's the latest offering from Metallica's Blackened Whiskey collection. It's fantastic. Mellow with no rye bite. Sweet and caramel notes. It was finished in Madeira and Rum casks. Delicious. I'll have to use this one sparingly. At least until it reaches this side of the country. Come on, guys. It says born in Bardstown on the bottle; you could have at least released it here first instead of California.

This provides many of the characteristics of Willett 4 Year Rye, with the added fruity notes of Seagrass. At 90 proof, it presents itself with an elegance that might actually be diminished at a higher proof. A lovely aroma, well-integrated flavors, and a brief, yet pleasant, finish; this is a whiskey from well-known makers that appears to have been carefully crafted to be an appealing, attractive option in the finished rye category.