Chicken Cock Whiskey Releases Wheated Bourbon
The historic Chicken Cock Whiskey brand, which dates back to 1856, has introduced its first-ever wheated bourbon. The new release, Chicken Cock Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, marks a significant addition to the brand's core portfolio and its first mash bill of this type.
By substituting wheat for rye as the secondary grain in its mash bill, Chicken Cock's latest offering produces a softer and sweeter flavor profile compared to traditional rye-based bourbons. This five-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon is bottled at 94-proof (47% ABV). Tasting notes for the new wheated bourbon include a nose of honeyed wheat bread, vanilla, and caramel, with a palate of toffee, baked apple, and warm biscuit. The finish is described as smooth and lingering with notes of vanilla cream and toasted oak. The retail price is approximately $50-$56. Originally established in Paris, Kentucky, in 1856, Chicken Cock was a prominent 19th-century whiskey brand. During Prohibition, it was famously smuggled in tin cans into Harlem's Cotton Club, where it was the house whiskey. After a distillery fire in the 1950s, the brand became dormant for decades. Spirits entrepreneur Matti Anttila revived the historic brand after discovering it at a museum. His company, Grain & Barrel Spirits, acquired Chicken Cock in 2011 and has since been working to restore it to its former prominence, with distillation now taking place at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Grain & Barrel's portfolio also includes Dixie Vodka and Elvis Whiskeys.
