White grape | Pear | Vanilla | Light oak | Mild baking spices | Touch of mint | Light overall

White grape | Raisin | Pear | Lemon citrus | Butterscotch | Acidic

Oak | Cinnamon | Spicy | Lingering peppery spice

Following Blackened x Willett, the first release in Blackened’s Masters of Whiskey Series, Blackened x Wes Henderson is a collaboration with the recently retired Angel’s Envy Co-Founder, Wes Henderson. Angel’s Envy is known for their port and rum finished whiskeys, so finishing with white port wine casks makes a lot of sense for this release. Being a Blackened product, the whiskey was subjected to Blackened’s Black Noise sonic enhancement process sending Metallica’s music through white port casks while the whiskey was being finished. In a rare turn of events for the whiskey business, Blackened x Wes Henderson saw a $40 drop in price compared to Blackened x Willett.

The nose is surprisingly light for this barrel proof bourbon. A hard swirl of the glass reveals a pleasant white grape and pear-filled aroma. It’s effective when you're able to pull it out, but it's definitely more subdued than it should be. The palate is like-minded with white grape and pear front and center. Interestingly, lemon citrus comes into play midpalate and adds a good deal of acidity to the whiskey. Far from detrimental, it adds a playful dynamic that few whiskeys exhibit. Not to be outdone, the finish adds a uniquely contrasting spicy note to the dram. Overall, Blackened x Wes Henderson is fascinating in how it contrasts itself in very unusual ways. It’s rare for whiskey to be acidic and then do a complete 180 into peppery spice. This doesn’t exactly translate into a cohesive whiskey; but in a way, how could it? It’s not for a lack of trying though, and while it's far from boring, you’ll enjoy your unexpected contrast it brings perhaps more than the whiskey itself.