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"Billed as the collaboration between Metallica and master distiller Dave Pickerell, Sweet Amber Distilling Co. produced Blackened — a blend of bourbons, ryes, and whiskeys selected by Pickerell — and is helmed by CEO John Bilello. The company deliberately avoided overt Metallica branding on the bottle, but worked with Pickerell and Berkeley-based Meyer Sound to age whiskey in barrels that were blasted with Metallica music as a kind of "musical stamp." Despite Pickerell’s sudden death, the company says it will soldier on and expand its presence in the Bay Area." - Caleb Pershan