Blackened Whiskey

Batch 113. It turns out that the batch number is significant, more on that later. Nose: caramel, oats, dust, honeysuckle. Lemon zest. Body: lemon, maple syrup. Honeydew melon. Brine. Tea leaves. Oat milk. Extremely creamy mouthfeel. Finish: chocolate, milk. Very faint cherry. I am very fond of this. In fact, some time ago, this bottle made a strong impression on me, leading me to start collecting Blackened bottles, which I am now finally getting around to drinking. While doing so, I wanted to be able to state that for Blackened, the batch number is irrelevant. Bad news, everyone: it truly matters, at least at this stage of their business strategy. I am comparing batch 113 directly with batch 124, and there is a clear distinction. These two batches are as different as two distinct single barrel store selections. On the positive side, if you had a negative experience, there's always a possibility you might find a better batch later. Conversely: you could recommend this to a friend and have them confused and disappointed. Batch 124 isn't bad, but for me, it's a full star lower. My strategy for Blackened going forward: I will likely always keep a bottle on hand. It warrants that. I will not continue collecting them. Blackened hasn't earned that yet. And I'm not convinced they deserve to sell anything costing more than $50, but I will wait to try the Blackened/Willett collaboration before making that definitive judgment.

I'm not a whiskey expert, but this might be the standard for American whiskey. I've been trying to find a whiskey of a similar type to compare it to, but without success. It doesn't taste like Bourbon or Rye. It's distinct, likely due to the brandy cask finish. The batch is 131. The aroma is dominated by ethanol, suggesting a young whiskey and the brandy cask. It's like dragon's fire. In the background, there's blackberry pie and baking spices. It leans towards rye. The taste matches the aroma. Cinnamon, allspice, and malt are present. Brandy is also noticeable in the flavor. There's blackberry jam with rye bread. It's sweet, but with a dark fruit sweetness. Like Sandman in a glass. The port wine is evident, of course. The finish is of medium length. It leaves a blackberry flavor. It's impressive how consistent it is throughout. In summary, if you enjoy port wine or dark brandy, this whiskey is for you. The whiskey has a very Christmas-like quality, despite the hard rock theme. The band did a commendable job in sourcing and blending to "remaster" the genre. Do yourself a favor and seek out this whiskey. You'll likely finish the bottle quickly.

Batch 120: Nose presents lemon zest, potpourri, and melon. Very comparable to previous batches, but less intense. I anticipated what to find, yet it's subtle. I'd add mint and medicinal notes. Body contains menthol, lemon, and maple syrup. Finish is hot, which is logical. Black pepper. Not much else. Vanilla, maybe? Comparing this to my last two batches: Batch 113 and Batch 124. Consumed neat, this is awful. A truly average strength whiskey. Some spirits can perform well at cask strength. This isn't one of them. On ice: Flavors emerge nicely. The finish gains whipping cream, chocolate, and cherries. The body introduces some orange. The mouthfeel even thickens... which defies chemical logic. But it's pleasant! I cannot stress this enough: on ice is the optimal way to drink this whiskey at barrel strength. Before I added this ice flower, this was destined to be a 2-star whiskey. I am astonished by how much it improved! Thus, cross-batch consistent notes observed so far: Lemon zest, melon, brine, chocolate, cherry.

Sampled this neat after letting it rest before enjoying the drink. The primary flavor detected was the "alcohol" with a subtle hint of caramel. The burn indicated its youth. It wasn't overly intense, but the alcohol was certainly present. The palate was "average." It began with caramel, some spice, and then a burst of pepper at the end. The warmth from the nose persisted, which again detracted from the enjoyment. The finish continued with warmth and rye spice, but it was short-lived. It didn't linger very long at all. Overall, the story of blasting music into the barrels is interesting, but that's where the appeal ends for me. I would not purchase a bottle, but I would consider it as a gift for fans of the band due to the unique story. Rating: 1.75

A complicated American Blended Whiskey created by a Master Distiller in partnership with a band, using a mix of American Bourbon, Rye & Whiskey. It was finished with a collaborator's unique touch and matured in dark Brandy casks, aged near subwoofers that blast low-frequency sound to improve the molecules. Each new batch of 5,000 bottles includes a different playlist from the band. It presents an aromatic beginning with notes of grains, fruits, wood, herbs & spices; while a complicated middle adds notes of burnt caramel, charred oak, honey, cinnamon, anise, allspice, clove, mint, apple & apricot; leading to a candied end of moderate length. December 2022

A nice amber hue, but the aroma is a bit unfocused. Initially, notes of spicy peppers, burnt vanilla, and caramel dominate. Following that, hints of rye spice, oak, clove, and honey can be detected. The higher-than-average 80 proof is noticeable but not unpleasant. The initial tastes are similar to many bourbons, featuring honey, vanilla, charred oak, and a slight bite. Pepper emerges in the mid-palate, but the finish is rather brief. It's smooth, though I wish it had a more defined character. The individual spirits in the blend are present, but not all were necessary. It could serve as a mixer for any recipe calling for whiskey.