Blackened Rye The Lightning

Classification: Straight Rye Finished in Madeira and Rum Casks
Distillery: Undisclosed Kentucky Distillery(ies)
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Age: 5-8 years and then finished for an additional 2-14 weeks in each cask type
Proof: 90

Class: RYE-201 – Advanced Studies in Amplified Whiskey

Strap in and take notes. This isn’t your freshman dorm bottle of brown—this is Ride the Lightning in a glass: amplified, electrified, and finishing somewhere between a guitar solo and a sucker punch.

Nose: First sniff is a quiet intro—like the slow build on “Fade to Black.” Fig, pear, molasses… then just when you’re about to call it mellow, in saunters raisin, anise, and rye spice with a wink. It’s not loud, but it’s layered—like a ballad hiding a breakdown.

Palate: Boom. Here comes the riff. Burnt brown sugar and rum cake drop in heavy, followed by cinnamon spice licks and toasted oak bass lines. A bit of nutty rhythm, dark fruit harmonies, and citrus highlights sneak into the mix like backup vocals that actually matter. This is where the whiskey gets loud—and I mean arena loud.

Finish: The fade-out isn’t quiet either. Hazelnut, brown sugar, and seasoned oak bring it all home with a spicy encore. It’s a medium-to-long finish, like a power ballad that doesn’t overstay its welcome—but leaves you humming.

Final Grade:  A-  A bit shy on the nose, but makes up for it with stage presence and depth. Complex, balanced, and bold. You don’t need a backstage pass to enjoy this one… but it wouldn’t hurt to play some Metallica while you sip.

Class dismissed.