![]() This Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Rye highlights the symbiotic collaboration between Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich of Sweet Amber Distilling Co. Price: $140* “BLACKENED® American Whiskey launches its first-ever collaboration as part of the Limited Edition Masters of Whiskey Series: The BLACKENED X Willett Collaboration Kentucky Straight Rye. Mash Bill: 51%+ Rye + Corn + Malted BarleyĬask: New Charred Oak, ex-Madeira (finished up to 14 weeks)Īge: NAS (blend of barrels aged 4-8 years)Ĭask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color So let’s get to drinkin’ and hop right into the review.īlackened x Willett Rye Madeira Finish – Details and Tasting Notes To see how this thing performs in the glass. Now that we have the nerd stuff squared away, let’s get to why you’re really here. If they had just blasted the Willett barrels with Black Noise, and no finishing, then yes, it could be a straight rye, but the finishing immediately removes that solitary designation. ![]() I get that it’s a long title to copy and paste over and over, but that’s what it is. But the marketing around it, almost exclusively, calls it a straight rye. To the credit of the label, it does carry the full designation/proper title of it being a “Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks”. It’s finished in Madeira casks, which immediately disqualifies it from being a straight rye. So, I have to call out that this is NOT a straight rye as stated over-and-over in the press releases and marketing which simply label this as “BLACKENED x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey”. To some, proper naming might be minor, but to the nerds who spend our time digging deep into the laws governing our favorite spirits, it’s a big deal. The only thing, on the surface, I don’t like about it is some of the marketing. I love seeing this kind of unique collaboration to bring something new to the market. ![]() Not because of any of the individual components, but because it’s awesome to see distilleries and producers working together like this and both putting a stake and a name on the product. It’s the first release in their new “Masters of Whiskey Series”. Drew provided the whiskey (combination of high rye and low rye whiskeys), Rob supplied the finishing process (wine barrels and “Black Noise”), and Lars sequenced a unique playlist, chosen by Rob and Drew, to be blasted through the proprietary Black Noise setup. It’s a crowd pleasing whiskey from start to finish.Blackened x Willett Rye is a project combining the resources and talents of three men: Drew Kulsveen, Rob Dietrich and Lars Ulrich. Excellent intensity, paired with colorful tasting notes from both the rye and wine casks, creates an end product that is more than the sum of its parts. Immediately making an impact, this wine finished rye whiskey gets its barrel finishing right. Nevertheless, Blackened x Willett is an impressive sip. Much like aging whiskey on a boat, truck, cold or hot climate, or even outer space, regardless of how you feel about the Black Noise process, subjecting barrels to additional vibration or outside effects is bound to have some effect on the whiskey. This bespoke blend is then finished in Madeira casks for 14 weeks and subjected to the company’s proprietary Black Noise process that uses low hertz frequencies from Metallica's music to vibrate the barrels as they age. ![]() The duo selected a range of high rye and low rye Willett rye whiskey barrels that average 6.5 years old and go as high as 8 years old. This is a hands-on collaboration between Blackened’s master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich and Willett’s master distiller Drew Kulsveen. Given the name of the whiskey, Backened x Willett, it's easy to assume this is Backened’s whiskey finished in ex-Willett barrels instead of their standard black brandy casks, but come to find out it's not that at all, and in fact so much more. Blackened x Willett marks the launch of Blackened’s Masters of Whiskey Series which showcases the talents of renowned whiskey makers utilizing the company’s trademarked Black Noise sonic enhancement finishing process.
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