Metallica launches ‘sound-enhanced’ American whiskey

by Amy Hopkins

Members of heavy metal band Metallica have partnered with WhistlePig master distiller Dave Pickerell to launch ‘sonic-aged’ Blackened American Whiskey.

Available in select US cities, the whiskey is a blend of Bourbon, rye and other American whiskey that has been aged in black brandy barrels exposed to “low hertz sound waves”. The vibration from the sounds waves is said to “enhance the molecular interaction” of the liquid inside the barrel. For the project, Metallica and Pickerell partnered with audio manufacturer Meyer Sound, which has engineered a proprietary ‘subwoofer’ that amplifies low-frequency sound waves. Such frequency range is evident in Metallica’s music, the band claims, and as such the patent-pending process known as ‘black noise’ was born. “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,” the band said. “We want to show the world, and in this case especially the whiskey connoisseurs, how seriously we take this endeavour. “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.”