Blackened Whiskey Rye The Lightning
Blackened Whiskey Rye The Lightning is a 45% ABV (90 proof) Kentucky straight rye blend in a 750mL bottle — 5- to 8-year-old ryes finished in Madeira wine and Caribbean rum casks while undergoing Blackened's proprietary Black Noise sonic-enhancement — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof) — 2022 edition, per Del Mesa's own store copy
- Size: 750mL
- Age: blend of Kentucky straight rye whiskies aged 5–8 years, hand-selected by Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich
- Finish: finished 2–14 weeks each in Madeira wine and Caribbean rum casks, with BLACK NOISE™ sonic-enhancement — barrels bombarded with low-frequency Metallica playback (the live recording of Ride the Lightning performed in full at the June 2012 Orion Music + More festival)
- Mash bill: undisclosed — do not speculate (press specifies Kentucky rye)
- Origin: produced/bottled by Blackened American Whiskey (Sweet Amber Distilling Co.); brand co-founded by Metallica; rye sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery
Rye, Finished to a Metallica Soundtrack
Rye the Lightning takes 5- to 8-year-old Kentucky straight ryes, vats them, and finishes them in two woods at once: Madeira wine casks for nutty, dried-fruit depth and Caribbean rum casks for molasses warmth — each for 2 to 14 weeks. During the finish, the barrels get the Black Noise treatment: low-frequency vibrations from Metallica's own music (the 2012 Orion festival performance of Ride the Lightning in full) aimed at driving the whiskey deeper into the wood. Gimmick or not, at 90 proof it pours like a finished rye should. More in our rye whiskey collection or the full Blackened range.
Tasting Notes
Expect rye spice (cinnamon, pepper) over a Madeira-nutty, dried-fruit mid-palate and rum-cask molasses sweetness, finishing warm and rounded at 90 proof. The dual finish reads richer and darker than a straight ex-bourbon rye.
How to Enjoy
Neat to catch both finishes; a cube softens the edges. Makes a deep, dark rye old fashioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Noise?
Blackened's proprietary finishing process: finishing barrels are bombarded with low-frequency sound waves from Metallica recordings, intended to agitate the whiskey against the wood.
What casks is it finished in?
Madeira wine casks and Caribbean rum casks, 2–14 weeks each.
Is there a 92-proof version?
Yes — a 2024 edition at 92 proof with a different mash bill exists. Del Mesa's shelf copy confirms the 90-proof 2022 edition; verify the bottle before publishing.
Two cask finishes, one loud process — order Blackened Rye The Lightning online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.