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No Clowning Around: Slipknot's No. 9 Whiskey Is Really Good

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Celebrity-endorsed spirits are all the rage these days, but few actually involve the celebrity doing anything. That’s not the case with No. 9, a new Iowa whiskey, from the popular heavy metal band Slipknot, known for wearing scary masks that match their edgy sound.

Slipknot

Percussionist Shawn Crahan, a.k.a “Clown,” actually blended No. 9’s two expressions—No. 9 and No. 9 Reserve. If Clown decides to give up his musical career, he may have shot as whiskey blender, because the blends are good. In fact, Slipknot’s No. 9 single-handedly puts Iowa whiskey on the map and is the best liquid distilled there. Named after the number of band members, No. 9 will be available nationwide starting in August. 

Fred Minnick Tasting Notes

No. 9, 90 proof, $39.99

About: A blend of straight rye and straight bourbon mashed, fermented, distilled and aged at the Cedar Ridge Distillery. The blend is 60% bourbon (three to four years old; mashbill: 74% corn,14% malted rye, 12% malted barley) and 40% rye (three to four years old; mashbill: 51% rye, 34% malted barley, 15% corn and malted barley.)

It begins quite floral, with hints of honeysuckle and lily. Then, corn and caramel hit. On the palate, cornbread, jalapeño, apple butter and a hint of charred marshmallow. A lovely medium finish offers a hint of chocolate. This is very much a worthy everyday pour.

Score: 85 points

No. 9 Reserve, 99 proof, $69.99

About: Same mashbills and blending percentages as above. But minimum age on barrels is 4 years old.

Think cinnamon, clove, butter and oak. As it hits the palate, it coats it with this goodness, buttery almost, dripping down the side of the cheeks and warms all throughout. There’s a comfort here, cornbread-like, with notes of fried apple pie, apricot and macaroon. It finishes medium to long with a hint of bananas foster.

Score: 89

While rock stars have long had a hankering for whiskey, this is the first time the actual rocker did the work. And Clown’s toil could very well be the push his distilling partner, Cedar Ridge, needs to get into the national spotlight.

While Iowa-based Cedar Ridge is the No. 3-selling bourbon in the Iowa market and has been distilling since 2005, it’s lacked a national moment and gets lumped into the Iowa whiskey conversation that often starts and ends with Templeton’s class action lawsuit.

Silpknot

Carrying the weight of Iowa whiskey on his shoulders, Clown dialed in for a phone interview while on his European tour.

How long have you been a whiskey fan?

As you get older, your tastes and smells change. Somewhere about 10 years ago, my taste for whiskey changed to where I could actually taste, enjoy and really understand it. I really appreciate the process, the taste and everything that goes behind what whiskey really is. You know, it's more of a luxury for myself than when I was younger.

How do drink your whiskey?

I'm old school: I like a couple ice cubes, small glass and just sip. I take my time, but definitely like it cold.

Slipknot

What's your element where you're normally sipping the good stuff?

Probably on my houseboat by myself, enjoying it. It's kind of a personal thing. It's not really something I do around a lot of people because of just how much I enjoy it. You know what I mean? It's a creature comfort. I like to get my day done, kick the shoes off, be in private and the glass to be nice and chilled and the bottle nice and chilled.

I know you all started your own brand, but do you have any favorites that you go to on a regular basis?

I had been a Jack Daniel's guy until recently. The Cedar Ridge stuff is just so wonderful and beautiful.

Slipknot has been around for a long time. Has whiskey played a role in the band's history?

We've all gone through our phases. I can't really speak for anybody else but myself, but growing up we were just doing the kinds of things you do in rock and roll, good or bad.

Why start a whiskey?

Why not? I start everything. I want to do everything, but I'm not like a lot of people that just do things to do it. I have to have a quality base. I don't come directly at anything in this world for just money. I do it for quality to give people something new. It's kind of like being in music.

We feel proud to bring our new music every four years. After we write an album, we tour the world. We're proud to do that, you know. Same thing with the whiskey: I'm proud to be able to give our fans and the rest of the world a fine quality whiskey and with Cedar Ridge.

Slipknot has an enormous audience. You could have landed any distilling partner, from Jack Daniel’s to Jim Beam. Why Cedar Ridge?

Well, several reasons. Number one, they're the only whiskey company in the state of Iowa using Iowa corn for whiskey. I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and we're from Iowa. So, number one, most importantly is to stick with family and the morals and the work ethic of Iowans. And I mean that. As far as all the other names that you mentioned, they're just well-established. No matter what I would do with any of those companies, I would be second and even if I'm second with Cedar Ridge, it's still an Iowa-based company. Cedar Ridge is family run and feels like home.

On our first visit to Cedar Ridge, we were outdoors, about 90 degrees and we cracked a few barrels. It was the taste and the fragrance I wanted—the way I always envisioned it.

How will Slipknot market these new releases?

We'll do what you need to do, but I don't need to do much because I'm not in a band. I'm in a culture and cultures drink. It’s just my job to make people be aware to drink responsibly and be safe. We’re dealing with millions and millions of people, so it's not like I'm going right to the grocery store and worrying about competing. This stuff can go right on the truck with me and I can sling it right at a show and sign it.

You said you're going to sign bottles. Are you planning to go to liquor stores and grocery stores to sign bottles for fans?

I'll do all that stuff, but we have our own festival and I'll just drop a truck right there when we're allowed. We have a semi probably coming close to the Iowa State Fair.

I'm going to do liquor store signings and everything, but you have to remember, I do things a little bit differently. I'm expecting the outside world to come in and love this whiskey. That's the hope, that the whole world loves it, but really this is for my people. These are for my people and my people are pounding down my door all the time.When I take this out on the road, it's just going to go.

Slipknot headlines the Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville, Ky., in September. Fred Minnick is the bourbon curator to Louder’s sister festival, Bourbon & Beyond. He is the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine.