Chicken Cock - Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
$74.99
Chicken Cock – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Proof: 90
Age: “Aged at least 2 years”
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company / Grain and Spirits
Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mash: Not listed on the bottle or webpage, but assume its 95%+ Rye if not 100%
Website: Chicken Cock Whiskey
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Mint leaf… Yes Mint. Allspice, Caramel, butter pecans.
Taste/Palate: Once again you get mint up front. It’s not off-putting, but it’s also not subtle for me either. Dry on the mouth similar to a Brut Champaign. In the mid palate you get your standard Rye Spice, but it’s not over powering like you’re drinking a pepper bomb. If you take a bigger sip the spice in the mid palate is much more noticeable.
Finish: The finish is medium to short. You get the mouth tingles which isn’t unusual for a 90 proof whiskey. On the finish you get traces of Cinnamon, but also the Mint taste comes through again too. As the tingle fades away you get a little of the Butter Pecan and Wet Oak notes to round everything out.
Verdict: Is it good? Sure. I like the mint that pulls through that reminds me of a Mint Julep cocktail. Mint pulling through is pretty unique for me to notice right off the top instead of digging deep as an undertone. My one big gripe is that this has me questioning my methodology that is listed below. My methodology is centered around taste instead of value. What makes this bottle worth $74.99? I’m used to not getting a deal on bottles since I’m in Michigan and they set minimum prices, but the standard MSRP I found in my research is $69.99. I’m hard pressed to spend that kind of coin again on this particular bottle. A 2 year + age statement with no bells and whistles doesn’t warrant a mid to high price point. I can name 100 whiskeys I’d spend $75 dollars on over this. But, please don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad and I’m enjoying it, but this is something to add to a decent collection vs something that’s a go-to drinker.
The Story: My first comment on my upcoming reviews post was a request to review this Rye (Thanks Josh). I had stumbled across this bottle a couple times, but passed on it due to having something else in mind. Wouldn’t you know it… When I’m looking for it I couldn’t find it anywhere. After 2 weeks of searching I found it at a grab-and-go store in rural MI that has a decent whiskey collection. I scooped it up and my initial thought was that this will be a treat since it was hard to find. I taste first and research second. I was surprised that I was getting mint out of this in the nose, palate, and finish. I came back to it a second and third time on different days and concluded that I’m not crazy, at least about this. I was disappointed when I first cracked this open. Thought “well, that was a waste of $75”. On the second try it was much better. The third it was even better. I had to wait 4 days before I finished this post to make sure it was accurate. I enjoy the taste of this, but will conclude it should be in the $40-50 price range tops.
A little about Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. On their bottle they boast “The Famous Old Brand”. They were founded in 1856 and was a strong brand available in speakeasys during prohibition, specifically mentioned was The Cotton Club. The product was smuggled in tin cans to avoid the law. During prohibition the small sized distillery shut down and the rights were bought out by a Canadian company. In the 1950’s the distillery burned down halting production. The brand was recently resurrected to bring back the old recipes and mix in some modern techniques.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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