Sweet Amber Distilling Co. has named Rob Dietrich Master Distiller & Blender of Metallica’s Blackened American Whiskey.
Formerly Master Distiller at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, Dietrich takes the position at Blackened after the passing of renowned Master Distiller Dave Pickerell late last year.
“The opportunity to follow in Dave Pickerell’s footsteps at Blackened is humbling. Dave Pickerell set a very high standard with everything he touched,” said Dietrich in a press release. “His spirit of kindness and dedication live on with the team. I feel excited by the challenge of taking Blackened to new heights that Dave would have been proud of.
While at Blackened, Pickerell experimented with sourcing, blending, cask finishing, and even running a low frequency sound wave through barrels. He called this final step in the process “Black Noise.” Now, this job will be in Dietrich’s hands.
“Dave Pickerell will forever be a member of our band and our family,” said Metallica in a press release. “When we needed to begin searching for our next master distiller, it was a priority to find someone who could honor and continue the magic that Dave started. Rob shares a great respect for craftsmanship that Dave had and that we have for Blackened and our music.”
“Dave was not only one of the most groundbreaking distillers to ever walk the earth, but he was also a great friend. He possessed an unstoppable passion for the world of whiskey. It was of utmost importance for us to find someone like Rob Dietrich, who is also devoted to the craft,” stated John Bilello, CEO of Sweet Amber Distilling Co. in a press release.
Find out more about Blackened and Sweet Amber Distilling Co. here.
