Chicken Cock Island Rooster (750Ml)

Chicken Cock Island Rooster is a limited Kentucky straight rye whiskey with a tropical twist. After its time in new oak, it spent at least six months in Caribbean rum casks. The mash bill is 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It is bottled at 95 proof, and only 25 barrels went into the release.

The Chicken Cock name goes back to Paris, Kentucky, in 1856. During Prohibition, its rye was made in Canada and smuggled into the US in tin cans. In the late 1800s, its six warehouses could hold 32,000 barrels. It even shipped whiskey to Canada and Germany. The distillery came through an 1880s overproduction slump and a 1900 still-house fire. A distillery fire after World War II stopped production for decades. The brand came back in 2012 and now belongs to Grain & Barrel Spirits.

In the glass it is a rich, dark amber. The nose brings spice and cracked pepper, a touch of grassy rye, sweet molasses and soft oak. On the palate you get more spice, vanilla, butterscotch and pepper. The rum casks add just enough sweetness to tame the rye. The finish is very long and rye-led, with a buttery feel.

Judges liked it right away. Island Rooster won a Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Sip it neat or over one large cube so you can pick out the rum influence. It also makes a rich Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Try it with barbecue ribs or a grilled steak. For dessert, pecan pie or dark chocolate is a fine match. If you usually reach for bourbon, this spicy, sweet-edged rye is a fun step sideways.