Many drinkers are quick to dismiss celebrity-backed whiskies, but one label that has escaped the stigma is heavy metal band Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey. The first Blackened release, a blend of straight whiskeys finished in “black brandy” casks, came in September 2018. It was the last major undertaking of renowned master distiller Dave Pickerell, who would pass away mere months after its debut. After his passing, the mantle of master distiller was passed down to Rob Dietrich, who previously worked on both Tincup and Stranahan’s.
While the label’s more recent releases have scored above 91, the crown jewel of the Blackened portfolio is Rye the Lightning. Its name was a cheeky riff on “Ride the Lightning,” one of Metallica’s most popular albums. Dietrich, leaning on the cask finishing experience he picked up during his days at Stranahan’s, composed a blend of 5–8 year old rye whiskey that was finished in both rum barrels and madeira casks for 2–14 weeks each. The result was electrifying: a 93-point gem that was named Whisky Advocate's No. 16 Whisky of 2022 —it was also the only rye to make an appearance on that year’s list. While Rye the Lightning was intended as a one-off, Blackened has opted to give it an encore performance in 2024 with a second batch on the way.
A few changes have been made to this new batch of Rye the Lightning that set it apart from the original. Chiefly, the mashbill is different: while the first batch followed a proprietary recipe, Dietrich confirmed that this batch was made with a new 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill. The proof is ticked up to 46%, from the original 45%. Unlike the first batch, the new one is presented without chill filtration. According to Dietrich, all these changes were designed to give the whiskey a heavier mouthfeel and stronger flavors. The dual-cask finish has remained the same.
This whiskey, like the rest of its portfolio mates, undergoes something called “ Black Noise sonic enhancement.” This is the proprietary process by which Metallica songs are played on loop at low frequencies for the full duration of the whiskey’s finish process. At those frequencies, the sound waves vibrate the liquid inside the barrel, which is said to lead to more interaction between the whiskey and the wood and extract more flavors from the barrel.
Drinkers will be happy to hear that, despite the recipe changes, 2024’s batch will retain the same $70 suggested retail price as the original Rye the Lightning. The whiskey is currently available online, and in select retailers across the country. Dietrich told us that he wants to turn Rye the Lightning into a yearly offering, but that isn’t set in stone just yet.
What Does Blackened Rye the Lightning Taste Like?
The first Rye the Lightning’s status as the only rye to make our Top 20 List in 2022 made it a veritable standard bearer. The new batch has a pretty high bar to clear; our tasting panel received samples of it ahead of the launch. Here are their thoughts.
Our Review:
92 points - Musty oak, sugarless mint gum, cinnamon baked apples, vanilla, Red Hots, monkey bread, caramel swirl, frosted Cinnabon, and a touch of wood spice on the nose. The cinnamon stays around on the sweet and spiced palate that also reveals flavors of vanilla cream, baked peaches, burnt sugar cookies, hints of candied nuts, and dashes of jalapeno spice. The finish is lengthy with honey and vanilla sweetness tempered by oak, dark espresso, and more cinnamon.—David Fleming
