In the April 2025 issue of Whiskey Network, Robb Flynn unleashed a double barrel blast with the launch of Shotgun Blast Whiskey. It’s a sonic and sensory sledgehammer forged for collectors, connoisseurs, and the relentless souls of the legions of Head Cases around the world.
This isn’t just whiskey, it’s a declaration. Housed in a savage set of twin 500ml decanters molded into sawed-off shotguns and paired with shell-style shot glasses, every piece detonates with style and rebellion. The box set doesn’t just spark conversation, it shuts down the room.
Named after the searing track “Davidian,” Shotgun Blast Whiskey draws its battle cry from the iconic line: “Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast.” It’s more than a lyric… it’s a war drum for the defiant. In every pour, you’ll taste the grit, volume, and unapologetic fury that defines Machine Head’s legacy.
This is the whiskey that refuses to sit quietly on a shelf.
It roars. It rebels. It rings out loud like the blast of shotgun.
The first run sold out almost immediately, as the early adopters were lucky enough to score on the first run. The good news? It’s back in stock!
Now it is a great opportunity for us to share our thoughts on this whiskey. Whiskey Network was provided the whiskey at no cost, but this has no bearing on our objective review.
Shotgun Blast Whiskey
Class: Straight Bourbon Whiskey (blend of 3-year and 10-year bourbon)
Mashbill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
Color: Deep golden amber
ABV: 45% (90 proof)
Price: $199.99
Nose 90/100
The opening riff roars to life with power-chord vanilla. It’s thick, rich, and unrelenting. This is followed by a melodic growl of warm caramel, the clean vocal break before the pit ignites. On the second pass of nosing: leather crashes through like a double-kick assault, raw and commanding. The entire intro is a sonic wall that is loud, brazen, and built to overwhelm.
Palate 91/100
Spices detonate with the velocity of a circle pit hitting the palate: molten, aggressive, and immediate. As the tempo shifts, orange peel melodies and black pepper breakdowns thrash and grind in chaotic harmony. Beneath the fury, sweet corn hums with a clean lead blaring a blazing solo wrapped in sugar and steel. The mouthfeel? Pure sludge. Oily, heavy, lingering like the echo of a down-tuned chug in a sold-out arena.
Finish 89/100
The encore kicks off with spicy cinnamon heat that lingers like feedback off a stack of crackling amps. Oak notes ride in on the fade-out, warm and familiar like a closing verse in a crowd-chant anthem. Though the outro should be a bit longer, it still does not disappoint. It grinds hard and leaves a scar.
Overall 90/100
This whiskey doesn’t whisper, it kicks the damn doors down and lets loose with both barrels. From first pour to final drop…this is a statement piece, built to provoke and electrify. With a flavor profile that strikes like power chords through tube amps, it hammers classic notes with defiant precision. Sure, the finish could throw one more punch—but in the grand scheme, it’s a battle-scarred anthem that still leaves the crowd roaring. A bold pour for bold souls.
Recommendation
For the true Head Cases, the lifers who crave distortion as much as a damn good pour, this one’s carved straight from the soul of heavy music and distilled into fire. This isn’t some celebrity vanity project. This is Shotgun Blast Whiskey: a legit, high-octane expression forged for those who live loud and drink bold. With sawed-off decanters and shell-shot glasses, the presentation alone hits like a nuclear blast. So, crank the Machine Head discography, let the riffs fly, and let this whiskey roar across your taste buds.
This isn’t just a bottle… it’s a declaration.
Own it. Raise it. Blast it!
