2XO Whiskey and American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman have teamed with hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang to launch “Rapper’s Delight” – The Hip-Hop Blend, priced at $79.99 (£59.17, ₹7,635)) per 750ml. The whiskey is the seventh release in the brand’s Collectibles Series and lands this September nationwide and online at ReserveBar.
The blend takes its inspiration from The Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 single “Rapper’s Delight,” widely credited with introducing rap music to a mainstream audience.
“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with the legendary Sugarhill Gang and their historic single, ‘Rapper’s Delight’,” said Dedman. “It’s surreal to collaborate with such a generational and iconic team.”
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Dedman described the whiskey as “a brown sugar bomb with loads of weight and viscosity on the front of the palate.” He added: “It’s unique and classic, like this collaboration.”
The Sugarhill Gang also reflected on the tie-up. “When we made ‘Rapper’s Delight’ in 1979, we could never have imagined the song’s impact,” the group said.
“Collaborating with Dixon Dedman and 2XO to bring the spirit of ‘Rapper’s Delight’ into the world of whiskey has been an exciting opportunity for us,” the group continued. “It’s an amazing way to honor where hip-hop came from while creating something entirely new to share with our fans.”
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READ THE STORY2XO, meaning Two Times Oak, refers to Dedman’s blending process in which every expression undergoes additional oak exposure. The extra oak interaction builds sweetness and balances the spice derived from the rye-forward mash bills.
The Hip-Hop Blend consists of two proprietary mash bills – a high-rye (35%) bourbon mash bill and a moderate-rye (18%) bourbon mash bill.
Dedman double-barrels the high-rye mash bill into new #3 and #4 charred oak barrels for nine to 12 months. That component comprises 90% of the blend, with the remaining 10% from the moderate-rye mash bill.
According to the official notes from the brand, the whiskey features maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, baked apples and a mild, silky, peppery finish.
The release follows previous Collectibles editions, including The Vinyl Blend, The Sneakerhead Blend and The Kiawah Blend.
All 2XO whiskeys are crafted in partnership with Prestige Beverage Group.
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