Blackened x Willett (Master of Whiskey Series)

My upcoming few reviews will be conducted blindly to ensure impartiality, free from any reviews, labels, or age statements, and hopefully, I can identify them and most importantly, if they are enjoyable or not. A huge thanks to a friend for organizing this for me, and now it's time to open this first one to discover the surprise that friend has in store for me. The aroma is bold and rich, beginning with powdered sugar-dusted strawberries, toasted pumpernickel bagel, and sweet pipe tobacco, followed by honeysuckle and wintergreen, then cherries jubilee, caramelized pears, and orange blossom, transitioning to spearmint, juniper berries, anise, and leather with a strong ethanol burn. The taste has a syrupy rich mouthfeel, starting with powdered sugar-dusted strawberries, toasted pumpernickel bagel, and sweet pipe tobacco, followed by honeysuckle and wintergreen, then cherry pie, caramelized pears, and orange zest, transitioning to spearmint, juniper berries, and slightly bitter black tea with a strong ethanol burn. The finish is long with anise, cherry pie, caramelized pears, sweet pipe tobacco, moderate black pepper spice, spearmint, and mildly bitter black tea. Well, this is a fantastic start to this little blind series; it is very enjoyable with bold and rich flavors of red berries, rye, florals, and well-aged oak, leaning a bit more towards the bitter and spicy notes than I prefer, but it's still an exceptional whiskey. Based on the red berries and rye flavors, I suspect it's either a MWND or possibly a Blackened X Willett, as those are the only two ryes I know that have been aged in red wine barrels, but it's possible a friend surprised me. Time to find out and reveal the label to see that it turns out to be... Blackened X Willett. Haha, yes. I finally guessed one of these blind tastings correctly and would like to have one of these in my collection if I could find it for $150, but for the $200 I see online, I'll probably pass on it for now.

The aroma is quite mild for a rye at this proof; spearmint, ginger, strawberry, something grassy, something umami (soy sauce?), leather, and a hint of “Willett funk” which I can best describe as a dusty rickhouse note, if that makes sense. After it sits in the glass for a minute, the ethanol diminishes to near zero, which is a positive for a 109 proof product. A peculiar and complex aroma, indeed. Palate: Oh okay, wow. There is a LOT happening here. Chocolate malt, black pepper, date, fig, raisin, plum, raspberry, tobacco, and mint. The flavors are explosive. This tastes like a dessert bourbon was mixed with an herbaceous rye, and honestly, I'm all for it. Underlying it all is a flavor that is distinctly “Willett,” which in my opinion is a good thing. The finish is spicy and long with white pepper, cinnamon, peppermint, and a pleasant toasted oak not present on the nose or palate. The finish is incredibly long. The mouthfeel is rich and suits the flavor profile perfectly. Completely unique and delicious. I'm not sure how much of this can be attributed to the Willett profile (probably a lot), the Madeira cask aging (likely a considerable amount), or the “sonic Metallica aging” (probably none), but whatever the cause, they executed it perfectly. But we must address the outrageous $159 price tag. Apparently, there is 6-8 year Willett Rye in here, and considering what THAT goes for these days, one could make a strong case that it's actually a bargain. Do I think so? No, not quite. Will I purchase a replacement when this is gone? (Assuming I can find it) I just might. It's that good.

Sweet cherry pie, wow! Then the rye emerges, with fresh mint, caraway, rock candy, grape jam and oak. I regret succumbing to buying this. I regret being a devoted Willett fan. The label is deceptive as a particular website points out on their excellent site. The notion of rock music improving whiskey is likely nonsense. The price is exorbitant. The aroma is clearly a Willett rye and wine cask blend. As it sits longer, the cherries jubilee fades, and the Willett rye foundation becomes more apparent. There's an over-oaked IW Harper 15 note that I don't favor but isn't bad. Oh. Oh my. My, my, [other actual expletives]. That might be the finest mouthfeel of any whiskey I've experienced. It's substantial. It's viscous. Clearly influenced by wine, as Willett 4 and 7 year rye don't deliver this sensation. The taste mirrors the aroma. Rich, cherry pie, thick Madagascar vanilla paste, cloves, allspice, anise… around the middle of the palate, a pleasant nuttiness and yeasty note from the casks emerges along with raspberry and perhaps even a bit of strawberry… and then it lingers indefinitely with salted caramel, cherry pie and a medley of spice and herbs. I still dislike the price, and the label, and the pseudo fan hype surrounding Willett products (which relies on the reputation of what was likely old Heaven Hill before the stills were reactivated). However, they are producing some excellent items. This is sweet, vibrant, mildly tannic and nutty, has a heavy body and finishes forever. I hate that I might purchase another one…

I was hesitant to enjoy this, primarily due to my dislike for celebrity products and the associated whiskey pseudo-science, like exposing barrels to music. This is why I've avoided the standard Blackened. However, Willett's involvement with them lent a certain respectability. A friend generously shared their interest in trying this with me. The aroma is abundant with cherry and vanilla, with rye characteristics present just beneath the surface. The initial taste is of sweet wine. While I'm uncertain of the distinction between Madeira and Port, it strongly evokes Midwinter Night's Dram at first. Then, the Willett rye flavors emerge and blend with the fruity wine notes. It's akin to a superior version of MWND. When I had both available, I even attempted a less refined imitation using MWND and Willett 4-year rye. It wasn't as good, but it wasn't terrible. This is exceptionally well-crafted, and I would be very tempted to purchase it if I encountered it. Thanks to my friend for the chance to sample this!

Nose: Pronounced citrus, maple syrup, dark fruits, piecrust, burnt sugar, and salted caramel. Palate: Caramel, baking spices, maple syrup, black pepper, finishing with nutmeg and warmth. Experience: Evokes the atmosphere of a fall fairground at night, with a cool, damp air carrying scents of caramel apple, baked goods, spiced nuts, alcohol, and machine oils. It's complex but harmonious, like background music accompanying the sensory experience. This isn't a typical celebrity spirit; evident effort and care went into its creation, first by the late Dave Pickerel and now by the skilled team at Willett. While the price of $150.00 or more is high, it's in line with current whiskey costs. It's a distinctive and excellent spirit, sure to please fans of Willett, Metallica, Madeira, or Dave.

The deep, golden amber color leaves rich oily trails on the glass, with legs streaming down the sides. The nose offers a sweet, wine-like aroma balanced by the spiciness of rye, followed by charred oak, vanilla, fresh flowers, and a hint of bacon fat. The palate is rich and full of Madeira sweetness intertwined with rye spice. Charred oak dominates, accompanied by a subtle creaminess. Each sip invites lingering enjoyment, allowing you to savor it due to its cask strength yet gentle nature. The taste persists even after swallowing. It's as if Madeira itself were a spirit. The finish is long and satisfying, with a persistent blend of sweetness, spice, and lingering oak.