The legendary heavy steel band Metallica has launched their own brand of whiskey called Blackened, after one of their songs, is produced through Sweet Amber Distilling Company, a joint venture between Metallica and past and legendary artisan distiller Dave Pickerell.mixture of whiskey directly from bourbons and rye from all over North America.
The company has hired John Biello as CEO, an 18-year-old veteran at Seagram who remains with spirits brands such as Milagro Tequila, Tequila Avion and Double Cross luxury vodka.
After Dave Pickerell’s death, Sweet Amber hired Rob Dietrich, a former distillery teacher at Stranahan Distillery in Colorado, who trained with legendary distiller Jess Graber and as someone who combined education in the distillation and music industry as an ideal selection for the position.
Celebrity-approved minds are not new. There are many ‘celebrity logo spirits’.Usually, a celebrity acts as a spokesperson for the logo and announces it to its fans.In return, they are paid or even granted a stake in the company that owns the logo.In some cases, they even invest some of their own money.
The activity can be quite lucrative for celebrities. Recent sales of George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila or Ryan Reynolds-approved Aviation Gin have resulted in multi-million dollar bills for its sponsors and featured partners, reports that Reynolds personally left on a salary of $600 million.greatly exaggerated.
Usually, when a celebrity approves of a spirits logo, it doesn’t play a major role in its actual production.The expression would possibly reflect your tastes and preferences.list created through the producer. However, total production is left to industry professionals.
Metallica’s Blackened whiskey is different. The band, or to be more precise, the band’s music, played a central role in forming the character of whisky.This is the first case in which a rock band uses their own music in the form of sound maturation up to the aroma and flavor profile.of a whisky as it ages.
The use of sound maturation is a concept that has existed for several decades.Blackened uses a unique maturation procedure with enhanced sound called Black Noise, which literally crushes black brandy drums containing whiskey with low hertz vibrations.The sonic remedy shakes the whiskey, maximizing the extraction of the flavor of the wood.
According to Dietrich, each batch of Blackened tracks on an exclusive playlist organized through the band’s own members.
The Batch 81, named after the year of creation of Metallica, the company’s first version.Each batch has an express playlist.It can be found on the Blackened online page and can also be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.Since then, a total of 22 lots have been produced, from lot 81 to lot 102, each batch is limited to 5,000 bottles.
The Batch Hundred, one of the newest versions, comes only in a limited edition box consisting of a bottle of Batch one hundred Blackened whiskey, two 12-inch vinyl photographs from Metallica’s traditional playlist used in the whisky completion procedure, and Blackened Zine’s first edition.The playlist for this expression Blackened was decided through Dietrich and Metallica co-founder Lars Ulrich, and consisted of an eclectic combination of what Dietrich described as “rare, live and studio recordings” of albums.
It would be tempting to dismiss Blackened’s sound enhancement as an undeniable marketing trick.It’s a mistake. Dietrich has an in-depth knowledge of the underlying science of sound maturation.Recently, I sat down with Rob Dietrich to talk about Metallica’s Blackened whisky and immerse myself in the global maturation of advanced sound.
JM: Using low-frequency sounds to increase maturation has been used across several whisky companies, adding Tuthilltown Spirits/Hudson Whisky When did this trend start?
RD: The concept of using music to improve whisky maturation has existed for many years, however, by participating with a sound company and, in fact, by reading the effects of improving low-frequency sound in the maturation process, Blackened Whisky began to improve.the process.
I have the impression that the concept was used in the wine industry for a while before being implemented in the world of whisky.A “romantic” view of game music in wine barrels seemed to bring some other detail of elegance, so to speak, to wine, however, I do not think I have ever intended to increase the maturation of the sound or increase it.
I first heard of other brands of whisky game music in his whiskey barrels around 2007, assuming it was to experiment with vibration and aging techniques.As a whisky distiller, I am interested in new and unusual odds and was surely intrigued by the procedure that Dave Pickerell, the master distiller who founded Blackened Whiskey, created with the sound enhancement of our old whisky mix.It worked so well that we filed the procedure under the name “Black Noise”.
JM: As in the process, low-frequency sounds, necessarily background notes, induce vibrations in the liquid, which enhances its interaction with the barrel wood, necessarily the absorption and expulsion of the whiskey from the wood, is it So?
RD: In a nut words, yes. The selected frequency is vital and uses a low-frequency hertz, which creates intense vibration and is a vital step in our procedure to improve the sound of whisky through immediate barrel interaction or, as you said, absorption and ejection.Using exclusive devices designed through the company that creates travel sound devices for Metallica, we use our “Black Noise” procedure, which we apply to Blackened Whisky the procedure of completing the barrel.
It was surprising to see the control effects of the first experiments; each of the nine flavor profile markers (in whiskey) known through the Independent Stave Company was much higher in the barrel with improved sound than in the barrel that had not been advanced through sound.We had evidence that the procedure was working.
It made sense, because I’m sure almost everyone felt this vibration in their chest as they walked past or in front of a group of speakers at a concert. You can physically feel the music vibrate in your body. The same joy takes position.internal gun.
The elements of sound noise have been used in many ways, from underwater navigation to divers off the coast of Australia that use sound vibrations to scare and/or attract sharks; So why not apply some sound enhancement to whiskey with music made through one of the strongest and strongest bands on the planet?
JM: Sound waves are a source of power. Presumably, this power catalyzes other chemical reactions in the liquid, is it correct?Do you know what other processes would possibly be happening?
RD: When you use a low-frequency sound enhancement, such as Black Noise, in the procedure of completing whisky, it creates what can be called “acoustic cavitation”, which is the formation, expansion and implosive collapse of bubbles radiated through sound.When a bubble collapses, or in this case, thousands of bubbles grow and collapse in whisky, it produces massive amounts of energy. When this physical acceleration rate is applied, for example, it collapses asymmetrically in near a slab The surface creates a microjet, helping to push the whisky in and out of the wood at an immediate rate, collecting flavor elements beyond the general levels.You can find a more detailed explanation as well as the science that accompanies it here.
I saw water studies, where the experiment was filmed at a microscopic point while a variety of other music sounded in the water.The music replaced the physical appearance of water at the molecular point, with charming patterns of “snowflakes” appearing when playing classical music.and the more excessive patterns gave the impression when playing more powerful and heavy steel music.
JM: Is it imaginable to link the effect of sound maturation with the popular maturation cycle?In other words, can we link an era of sound maturation to the equivalent age of normal maturation?
RD: I think it can in fact be quantifiable, however, studies would have to be done for years, or at least a year at least, to perceive the dating of an improved whisky with bran to one that has gone through an older maturation cycle.The series of tests carried out allows to differentiate between color, wooden particles, differences in taste, etc.to make a judgment about the effect of improving sound over time.
Our goal with Blackened Whisky is not to update classic aging strategies, but only to aged whisky.The whiskies we collect already have an average age of 7 to 8 years before applying our Black Noise technology; we simply load our own ingredient: Metallica’s music.
JM: There are several other processes that take place in maturation, extraction of wood compounds, chemical reactions similar to oxidation as a result of oxygen infiltration in the barrel, concentration of organoleptic compounds as a result of evaporation, adjustments in the proportion of alcohol to water, etc.Which of these reactions are affected by sonic processing?
RD: I think that with an accelerated procedure such as improving sound, the acoustic cavitation of whisky creates energy, which in turn can generate heat, so there may be more evaporation elements that provide more than usual, although this has not yet been confirmed.I think we still have a lot to notice about this procedure and that we are just scratching the surface of what sound enhancement can actually do, beyond the already confirmed verification effects.
JM: How do you know what musical options are used to mature whisky?Have you tried other clues?Have other clues affected the taste profile of whisky in any other way?
RD: We introduced with Batch 81 to commemorate the year Metallica was founded, and the band members have jointly chosen the batch playlist.After that, they exchange who chooses the playlist for each batch.Playlists can be found on Blackened’s website.members of the organization choose songs based on their non-public preferences; for example, Rob Trujillo likes the toughest playlists and front bass, while Kirk Hammett likes melodic and lost soloists’ playlists better.
We also just introduced the limited edition Blackened Whisky batch hundred, where the band asked me to choose the playlist, the first time someone outside the band asked to do so.It comes with two vinyl records with a bottle of a hundred lots and extras in a commemorative box for Metallica and whisky fans.
I chose songs that were not public to me and entrusted them to others on the path of my life; a song committed to my sister, songs committed to my old army unit, a live edition of the song ‘Blackened’ for our wonderful blackened whisky team, a song committed to my school metallurgical best friends, etc., and a wonderful honor laugh at collaborating on this project.
People will buy other masses to give opposite flavor to each other, to see how the other song options mix.It is desirable to see the comments of whisky fans and Metallica fans; there are a few other people who gather as many masses as possible, to compare accordingly.
We take our technique to maintain the quality and consistency of our whiskey very seriously, and Black Noise’s sound enhancement procedure is a laughing way for band members to worry and make Metallica’s music, and the voices of live track enthusiasts, literally shape whiskey.. With the verification results shown, the Black Noise procedure improves the wood flavor of black brandy drums by completing the barrel.
JM Are there musically advanced maturation projects underway?
RD: There are some very attractive upcoming expressions we’re working on, but I’m talking about them right now.Keep your eyes open on the horizon.
JM: How many other whiskies and puree expenses were included in this blend?What is the breakdown between the other types?
RD: Blackened is a blend of quality American whiskies, meticulously decided throughout the past Dave Pickerell.We do not disclose a puree bill as we use a variety of whiskies in our proprietary blend of a number of well-established origins, namely Bourbon from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, as well as Rye (whiskies) from Indiana and Canada.Bourbon offers sweet notes of corn puree that balance well with the soil and spicy rye.Black brandy barrels provide a slight background of black fruits, offering a well-balanced and complex flavor profile.
JM: What is the average age of the mixture?
RD: The average age of the aggregate is 8 years and older, aged in American white oak and finished in black cognac barrels for at least 10 weeks the Black Noise sound enhancement process.
JM: Thank you
Below are tasting notes from Metallica’s Blackened Whisky Batch 98.The playlist used to create selected low-frequency vibrations through James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and lead songwriter.
1. ONLY ONE BALLOT
2. HERE IS THE REVENGE
3. NO REMORSE
4. IMPUTATED III
5. HARVEST PAIN
6 …. AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
7th MOTOR RESPIRATION
8. THORN INSIDE
Blacked, NAS, 45% ABV, 750 ml, ARP $45
The color is a golden amber hue. On the nose, there are notes of honey accompanied by notes of cinnamon spices and Jamaican pepper accompanied by caramel, brown and fruity sugar of dried apricot, a trail of orange zest and golden grapes, and a touch of dried herbs and mint followed by a slight salobre note.
In the mouth the whiskey is sweet, creamy and creamy, with apparent weight in the mouth, there is an initial pepper that itches and gradually develops in the back of the mouth before it nevertheless fades into a persistent bitter touch.The notes of oak are remarkable, but well integrated.
There are fruity notes of golden grapes, rabbits, prune and a touch of mango, followed by vanilla and highly spicy tropical notes of cinnamon, Jamaican pepper and cloves.There’s a slight saline note in the mouth.
It is long and sweet, with lingering notes of dried fruit and a hint of pepper.
A touch of water improves creaminess, highlights sweetness and fruitiness when cutting pepper.I prefer my pure whiskey, but Blackened is definitely a whiskey to serve with ice or with a splash of water.
Blackened’s a whiskey. It would be attractive to make a side-by-side comparison of the whisky that has undergone the Black Noise sound enhancement and many others that have not.For whisky lovers who are also steel fans, Blackened’s other lots will offer an attractive combination of music and whiskey and the opportunity to see how other playlists can shape a whisky.
Either way, it’s worth a try.
To your health
I’ve been writing and talking about wines and spirits for 20 years.Along the way, I became an winemaker, Oregon Pinot Noir; a trial for internationals
I’ve been writing and talking about wines and spirits for 20 years.Along the way, I became an winemaker, Oregon Pinot Noir; Judge of foreign competitions, in addition to the Irish Whisky Awards and the International Wine and Spirits Competition; I wrote an e-book about Scotch whisky: its history, production and appreciation and I worked on tequila.I also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in wines and spirits from WSET.I’ve tasted many wines and spirits, from 200-year-old ports to centuries-old cognacs to the world’s oldest whiskies.I also write about the dusty and forgotten rotten of the global, those who smell of history and whose stories still resonate in the 21st century.The rest of the time, I do foreign policy.An eclectic mix would certainly, once again, push anyone to drink.