Distillery profile

Chicken Cock Distilleries

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Chicken Cock Whiskey

Overview of the Distillery

Chicken Cock Whiskey is a historic American whiskey brand founded in Paris, Kentucky in 1856 and revived as an active brand, where distillation, aging and blending today are carried out through a collaboration in Bardstown. The brand combines a long history with modern small-batch releases, annual tin releases, exclusive distillery-only bottles, and an experiential home in downtown Bardstown.

History

The story begins with James A. Miller in the late 1830s. He built a distillery in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, and after his death George G. White took over the rights, changed the name to Chicken Cock, and carried the production forward. The brand faced legal trademark disputes in 1889 and a major fire in 1890. The rights were sold around the turn of the century, and Chicken Cock remained active through Prohibition, but declined in quality and was phased out in the 1950s. In 2011 Matti Anttila rediscovered the brand, and in 2017 a collaboration with Bardstown Bourbon Company began, leading to new Kentucky straight releases. In 2024 Chicken Cock opened its experiential home in Bardstown, marking the brand's modern phase.

Raw Materials and Production

Today, Chicken Cock operates as a brand that utilizes Bardstown Bourbon Company's collaborative distilling program for distillation, aging and blending. The raw materials follow classical American mash bills with corn, rye and malted barley; there is also a wheated setup in the lineup. The pages provide detailed mash bills for several products and specified char/toast levels. The craft includes selecting white oak from West Virginia for the barrels as well as requirements for air-drying, toasting and charring. The maturation occurs in rickhouses, where the placement of barrels is used strategically, and the range includes small-batch and single-barrel projects along with a range of finish experiments.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Maturation takes place in rickhouses with deliberate barrel placement. Primarily American white oak is used, and several releases utilize specified char/toast levels (Level 3–4). Some bottles undergo double oak aging. There are also experiments with finishes in Mizunara, French cognac casks, Caribbean rum casks, Petite Sirah wine casks and Blonde Ale barrels, especially in the annual tin releases and collaborative projects.

The Whiskies

Chicken Cock has a core consisting of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Rye, Small Batch and Double Oak, as well as a wheated bourbon. In addition, the brand releases a number of limited bottles and collaborations, including annual tin releases such as Chanticleer, Mizunara, and Red Stave, collaborations like Field Ethos Small Batch and single-barrel selections. The lineup ranges from standard 4–8 year age statements to longer-aged and single-barrel releases and also includes distillery exclusives sold at Circa 1856.

Whisky Type / Series Alcohol Age Barrel and Style Flavor Profile Status
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Kentucky Straight Bourbon 45 % Minimum of 4 Years Distilled, aged and bottled in Kentucky. Nose: balance of oak notes with sweet notes of dried fruit, caramel and vanilla Current; Core Range
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Kentucky Straight Rye 45 % Minimum of 2 Years A Kentucky Straight Rye distilled in Kentucky with a high proportion of rye in the mash bill; nose and flavor notes are documented. Nose: Crisp apples, citrus and toasted oak; Taste: Pear, vanilla, spearmint and mild white pepper Current; Core Range
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon 50 % Minimum of 4 years Small Batch is composed of a small number of barrels to highlight nuances in Chicken Cock's Kentucky Straight Bourbon; aged at least 4 years. Current; Core Range
Double Oak Kentucky Whiskey Kentucky Straight Whiskey 46 % 8 Years Used bourbon barrels then American White Oak; finish: Double aging to extract more flavor from the oak An 8-year-old whiskey product, aged in American oak twice; char/toast level described as Level 4 and storage location at the top of the rickhouse. Current; Core Range
Wheated Bourbon Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon 47 % Minimum of 5 Years A wheated bourbon, where rye is replaced with wheat in the mash bill; char/toast level described as Level 4. Current; Core Range
Old Glory Minimum of 4 Years Old Glory is listed with an age minimum of 4 years and a proof of 100. Current
The Coop Bundle Bundle Selected bundles including Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Rye and Small Batch Bourbon. Current; Core Range
Field Ethos Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon 50 % Collaboration with Field Ethos; small batch made from only three barrels to highlight unique nuances. 750ml at 50% ABV. Limited
Field Ethos Reserve Cask Cask Strength Kentucky Bourbon 60.2 % 8 Years Cask strength release where Field Ethos has hand-picked a single eight-year-old bourbon cask. 750ml at 60.2% ABV. Limited
15 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Distillery Exclusive 51.5 % 15 Year Distillery Exclusive release available only at Circa 1856; 750ml at 51.5% ABV. Limited; Exclusive to Circa 1856
20 Year Old Cotton Club Rye Rye Whiskey; Annual Tin Release 50 % 20 Year Annual tin release; 750ml at 50% ABV. The page shows "Bottles Remaining 0" at the time of content.; Nose: Sweet candy, faint glassy rye, some earth, hints of citrus orange peel, spices and white pepper; Taste: Complex spice, vanilla, butterscotch and pepper with a note of rum sweetness; Finish: Very long, with rye character prominent and a hint of molasses and buttery mouthfeel Limited; Sold Out (indicated Bottles Remaining 0)
Chanticleer Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Cognac cask finish); Annual Tin Release 56 % French Cognac casks; finish: Finish in fine French cognac casks Annual tin release finished in French cognac casks; 750ml at 56% ABV. The page shows Bottles Remaining 0 at the time of content.; Nose: Ripe peaches, delicate creaminess and honey; Taste: Vanilla and cherry with soft plums, dates and banana flambé; Finish: Caramelized sugar, melted butter and fresh citrus zest Limited; Sold Out (indicated Bottles Remaining 0)
Mizunara Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Mizunara finish); Annual Tin Release Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks; finish: Finish in Mizunara on annual tin releases Fourth edition of the annual tin release, finished in Mizunara oak. Limited
Red Stave Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Wine barrel finish); Annual Tin Release 51.2 % J. Wilkes Petite Sirah barrels; finish: Finish in Petite Sirah wine casks Annual tin release aged in Petite Sirah wine casks. The page shows Bottles Remaining 0 at the time of content.; Nose: Dark chocolate, toasted oak and dried fruit; Taste: Dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla with fruit notes of pear, apple and cherry; Finish: Long-lasting with spice such as nutmeg and cloves Limited; Sold Out (indicated Bottles Remaining 0)
Ryeteous Blonde Rye finished in Blonde Ale barrels 50 % Minimum of 4 years Blonde Ale barrels; finish: Finish in Blonde Ale-fade Limited collaboration with Goodwood Brewing; rye finished in Blonde Ale-fade. Bottled at minimum 4 years, 50% ABV.; Nose: Vanilla wafer, lemon peel, herbal tea, oak; Taste: Crisp apple, sweet malt, delicate pepper, and honey; Finish: Honeycomb, lemongrass, pear, toasted oak, and gentle sweet malt Limited
Island Rooster Kentucky Straight Rye (rum cask finish) 47.5 % Caribbean Rum Casks; finish: Rum-fade finish Limited release where 25 barrels of signature rye are finished in Caribbean rum casks. 750ml at 47.5% ABV.; Taste: Blend of spiced rye and candied molasses from the rum casks Limited
Garden & Gun Single Barrel Selection (9-year Double Oak) Single Barrel / Double Oak Kentucky Straight Whiskey 60 % 9 Years Garden & Gun single barrel selection: a 9-year-old double oak single barrel.; Nose: Dark chocolate-coated berries, toasted coconut flakes and caramel coffee; Taste: Vanilla bean, waffle cone, berries and warm baking spices; Finish: Round and balanced with creamy undertones and hints of crème brûlée and cinnamon flan Limited
Miller's Reserve Limited release; the product page lists price but few further details. Limited

The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies

Three throughlines run through: fruity notes (dried fruit, peaches, citrus), a spicy rye character (white pepper, warm baking spices), and sweeter components (vanilla, caramel, butterscotch). Oak influence is evident in several releases and is supported by documented char/toast levels and double oak processes. These traits are evident in products such as Chanticleer, 20 Year Cotton Club Rye, and several of the core bourbons.

Visiting the Distillery

Chicken Cock has an experiential home in the Harrison-Smith House in downtown Bardstown as a public base on the Bourbon Trail. The site is set up for tastings, sharing the brand's history, and selling exclusive releases, including distillery-only bottles. The information does not specify fixed opening hours or booking details on the product pages.

Philosophy and Craft

The brand's values include an ambition to revive historically proven quality, careful selection of barrel wood and clear specifications for air-drying, toasting and charring. There is also emphasis on strategic barrel placement in rickhouses and a combination of classic bourbon craftsmanship with experimental finish initiatives.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Gold Medal (2017, Gold, 160th Anniversary 8-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (160th release))

  • Platinum Medal (2017, Platinum (consumer-judged), 160th Anniversary 8-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon)

  • 94 Points (2018, 94 Points, 160th Anniversary 8-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon)

  • Double Gold (Double Gold)

  • Double Platinum (Double Platinum)

  • Gold Medal (Gold)