Jeff Yeager/Metallica/Getty Images – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo of Metallica perform at Hipodromo de Los Andes on Nov. 1, 2016 in Bogota, Colombia.
The band teams up with master distiller for the creation of a sonically-enhanced spirit.
Metallica are partnering with distiller Dave Pickerell to launch Blackened, a blended whiskey named after the opening track from 1988’s …And Justice For All album. Starting on Thursday (Aug. 30), the liquor will be available in stores, restaurants and bars as well as in a handful of locations on the rock legend’s U.S fall tour. Additionally, each batch of bottles will come with an accompanying Spotify/Apple Music playlist.
According to an statement on the band’s official site, “’Blackened’ isn’t just the name of a song on …And Justice For All, it literally helps to shape the flavor! The blend of bourbons, ryes, and whiskeys from all across North America, carefully selected by Dave himself, is housed in black brandy barrels and inundated with low hertz sound waves so intense that it actually enhances the molecular interaction and ultimately the finish of the whiskey.”
Metallica shared a promo picture on Twitter on Wednesday morning (Aug. 29), confirming the summer-long rumors regarding the collaboration. “It comes alive!” read the caption.
It comes alive! 🥃 #blackenedwhiskey @blckndwhsky pic.twitter.com/5r0MzxeyAa
— Metallica (@Metallica) 29 августа 2018 г.
On their site, the band adds, “The ultimate goal with Metallica is to connect with our fans through recordings, through concerts, and increasingly through any other way that further creates a bond. We want to show the world, and in this case especially the whiskey connoisseurs, how seriously we take this endeavor.”
“We are obviously not just slapping a Metallica label on a pre-existing mediocre whiskey, but have been working on this for the last several years and overseeing every detail from the first idea to your first taste with careful precision. The ultimate goal is to make a whiskey that fits into the Metallica experience and sets itself apart from all the others. We can’t wait for you to taste it!”
Metallica joins the hall of fame of rock stars who have united forces with the spirits industry, including such other heavyweights as AC/DC, Pearl Jam and Queen.
