Chicken Cock Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Chicken Cock (contract distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Co.)
• MASH BILL: 70% Corn | 21% Rye | 9% Malted Barley
• AGE: 5 years; Batch 9 of 9 Barrels
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 100 (50% ABV)
• MSRP: $69.99
• BUY ONLINE: Chicken Cock Online Store

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey lover, especially those who think 100 proof is too robust.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle

OVERALL: I love high-proof whiskeys, but I'm in the groove these days of really enjoying 90 to 100-proof releases. Whether I'm maturing and learning to appreciate subtleties in whiskeys or feeling palate fatigue after many barrel-strength picks this year remains undetermined. But this Chicken Cock bourbon has me happy at 100 proof.

At 5 years, it possess aromas and flavors you'd expect from something two to three years older. I like it so much that I looked at my tasting notes from a recent single barrel pick of 6-year-old Chicken Cock bourbon and found them nicely aligned. I look forward to tasting older versions of this to see how that profile carries forward.

The nose is all over the place, ranging from light leather, milk chocolate and cooked corn to fried donut, Parker House rolls and toasted oak. On the palate it's deliciously predictable: dark caramel, some black pepper, dark stone fruits and chocolate cake. It's rich without overwhelming the palate, and its short finish is actually refreshing. It's a terrific easy drinker that requires no ice, but will stand up to it all the same.

It's great to see this brand, founded in 1856, return and find its own flavor groove.

BRAND NOTES

Born out of the desire to create true small-batch whiskeys with big flavor that live up to the high-quality standards the Chicken Cock brand has been known for since 1856, the line will feature an ongoing series of one-of-a-kind bourbon batches. All batches will be bottled-in-bond at 100 proof (50% ABV) but will have their own unique maturation timeline and barrel aging locations in the rick house, resulting in stand-alone flavor profiles.

Chicken Cock Whiskey’s Master Distiller Gregg Snyder will select less than ten barrels for each batch, pulling from some of the finest barrels in the brand’s inventory. Each batch will only be available for a limited time; once one batch is gone, it will be replaced with another distinct expression. The bourbons will be distinguishable by the batch number and the respective number of barrels in each batch marked on every Prohibition-era apothecary-style bottle.

• Aromas: Orange zest, vanilla pastry, clove, candied ginger
• Flavor notes: Palate-coating flavor of butterscotch, honey, vanilla custard, orange peel
• Finish notes: Apricot, vanilla extract, toffee, red apple skin

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.