Chicken Cock Whiskey

Few American whiskey brands can claim a legacy that stretches from Civil War-era Kentucky to Prohibition-era Harlem speakeasies. Chicken Cock Whiskey, "The Famous Old Brand" established in 1856, carries the distinction of being the first bourbon from Bourbon County to ship internationally and the house whiskey of the legendary Cotton Club, where it arrived smuggled in tin cans.

History & Heritage

James A. Miller founded Chicken Cock in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, building a brand that would survive the Whiskey Trust, countless imitators, and Prohibition itself. During the dry years, the whiskey achieved legendary status at Harlem's Cotton Club, earning the nickname "The Whiskey in a Tin Can" for its creative smuggling methods. After a distillery fire in the 1950s silenced the brand for decades, spirits entrepreneur Matti Anttila of Grain & Barrel Spirits revived it in 2011.

The Whiskey

Today's Chicken Cock expressions are contract-distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company under Master Distiller Gregg Snyder's supervision. The core bourbon employs a 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley mash bill, aged in barrels crafted from hand-selected Appalachian white oak. The portfolio spans Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye, Double Oak, Small Batch Bourbon, and Bootlegger's Reserve, with packaging that honors its Prohibition heritage through medicinal apothecary-style bottles. Since 2023, the brand operates Circa 1856 in Bardstown, which joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2025.

Why It Matters

Chicken Cock represents American whiskey's ability to transcend mere survival and achieve genuine resurrection. The Small Batch Bourbon's Double Gold and Best in Show honors at the 2024 America's Best Beverage Awards demonstrate that this is not mere nostalgia bottled, but serious whiskey that honors its storied past while meeting modern standards. For those who appreciate good whiskey with authentic American stories, Chicken Cock offers both historical significance and proven quality in the glass.