Chicken Cock Whiskey is a very old brand. So old in fact that it’s known as the “Famous Old Brand”. Established in 1856, Chicken Cock rose to prominence before the distillery was snuffed out by a fire in the 1950’s. Formerly produced by National Distillers as a blend of Straight Whiskey and Grain Neutral Spirits I imagine this newer offering is significantly higher quality. Grain and Barrel Spirits acquired the name in 2012 and began sourcing barrels. This year, in addition to sourced juice from MGP, Chicken Cock has entered into an agreement with Bardstown Bourbon Company to distill the brand to their specifications. By the end of August 2018 BBCo had finished an initial run of 616 barrels for future Chicken Cock releases.
Read about our time at Bardstown Bourbon Company, click here!
When I first heard the name “Double Barrel Bourbon” I assumed this went through a finishing process in a secondary barrel, as is the “thing” to do these days. In fact the name refers to each bottle being a blend of just two barrels. “Master Distiller Gregg Snyder selected twelve barrels of 10-year-old bourbon, marrying two barrels at a time.” (1,980 bottles total.)
Name: Chicken Cock Double Barrel Bourbon
Distiller: MGP (Future stock will come from Bardstown Bourbon Company)
Bottler: Grain and Barrel Spirits
Type of Producer: Non-Distiller Producer
Year Established: 1856 sorta, also 2012.
Bottling Proof: 104
Age: 10 years
Mashbill: 70% corn / 21% rye / 9% malted barley
Style: Blend of two barrels
Release Date: October 2018
Availability: CO, GA, FL, KY, NY, SC, TN and online.
MSRP: $250 (750ml)
Chicken Cock Double Barrel Bourbon – Aged 10 Years
Nose: Dark, rich, caramel. Mature oak. Touch of hazelnut chocolates.
Palate: Caramel, molasses, cocoa. Sweetness on the sides of the tongue with a pleasant rye spice on the back.
Mouthfeel: Medium thickness, velvety.
Finish: Transforms from sweet and light to powerful and spicy over a few seconds. Nice medium long finish.
Final impressions:
I think they nailed the bottling proof on Chicken Cock Double Barrel at 104. At a lower proof the evolving palate and finish would have been lost. This is a delicious mature bourbon with a nice balance of sweet and heat. An awesome vintage looking bottle rounds out the experience. At $250 though this release might be a tough sell so to speak. While a very good bourbon with a lot going for it the sticker price may be a deterrent to all but the most committed Chicken Cock fan.
Notes from the brand:
Full details found here:
https://grainandbarrel.com/
https://www.chickencockwhiskey.com
