Info Shots

• Price: ~$60 (2023)
• Spirit: Whiskey
• Proof: 118 (59% alcohol)
• Noses (smell): Cinnamon, Brandy / Cognac Fragrances
• Palate (taste): Cherry and a fruity flavor. Flavors of a wheated bourbon come into play
• Age Statement: No age statement. (Only one on website is for the Willet collab saying they use 8 years there)

Distiller information

Background

Blackened is another one of those celebrity brands like Heavens Door or Cincoro (Tequila). The claim to fame with these bottles is each batch is blasted with Metallica music for most of its time in the barrel. As long as the power is on you bet these barrels are rocking out to some heavy metal. Now whether or not that adds any flavors or characters to the bourbon I can’t say for certain, but it makes for killer marketing non the less.

For this product it is finished in a Black Brandy Cask. Not much I can find on what type of brandy cask this is or what type of flavors that imparts, as I’m not as familiar brandy, but I would presume that the cask selection are responsible for the flavors imparted on to this bourbon overall.

As far as marketing goes, these are the songs that were played for this cask while it was aging in barrels for the unlisted age statement. Again does this add to the flavor and character imparted on the whiskey, who knows.

Onto the Review

Temperature

This one had a very pleasant fruity taste similar to what I find from a Willet product. It presents a subtle cherry flavor that comes from almost no where. The Brandy / Cognac flavors come through after the proof comes through. The fact that this product has a nice complexity at this price range was nice to see. Its not very long noted, but this does have a nice flavor overall.

Conclusion

Not much more to add to this Honestly. If you like brandy / cognac flavors and also drink bourbon at a cask strength, then your going to like the flavors on this. Mind you those are very specific niche area’s to like in general. If you like a fruity flavor from that of a Willet Rye or Noah’s Mill, then this may be something to try if you never had something in a cognac cask. For cask strength enthusiast, this is also an option as this isn’t that harsh of a bourbon and can in some cases be approchable.

I would recommend if you are not yet accustom to high proof bourbon (Anything that approaches 120 proof) to stay away or try becoming accustom to the proof. It can literally turn you off and make you only remember the harshness, and likely never come back. But these are recommendation, so take that for what you will.