Chicken Cock Red Stave Limited Edition Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

If you hopped in a time machine and set it for 1856, you'd stumble on a brand new whiskey called Chicken Cock. Distilled in Paris, Kentucky, it had a rich history. Fast forward about 64 years, and you'd find Chicken Cock in speakeasies around the country during Prohibition, including the famous Cotton Club in Harlem.

 

“During the prohibition period, you could always buy good whiskey from somebody in the Cotton Club. They used to have what they called Chicken Cock. It was a bottle in a can, and the can was sealed. It cost something like ten to fourteen dollars a pint.” - Duke Ellington

 

Then, in the 1950s, the distillery in Paris burned down, and the brand vanished into history. That is until it was resurrected in 2011 by Matti Anttila while he was researching older distilleries, and he purchased the rights to the brand. His company, Grain & Barrel Spirits, entered into a collaborative distilling agreement with Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2017.

 

The 13-year-old boy in me adores the name Chicken Cock. It is the holy grail of immature jokes. All laughter aside, today I’m checking out Chicken Cock Red Stave Bourbon.

 

“With over 300 years of combined whiskey and winemaking history, Chicken Cock Whiskey and J. Wilkes have partnered to create a unique Kentucky Straight Bourbon that commemorates America’s rich agricultural background. J. Wilkes Petite Sirah is produced by the Miller Family Wine Company, which is located in the Paso Robles Highlands District of California. The J. Wilkes winemakers take full advantage of the hot days and cool nights high above the Pacific Ocean to harvest grapes that are perfectly ripened and bursting with flavor.” – Chicken Cock Whiskey

 

Red Stave Bourbon starts with a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. The time it spends in oak is undisclosed, but after maturation, it rested in former Petite Sirah wine barrels from J. Wilkes. A 750ml, 51.2% ABV (102.4°) package comes with a suggested price of $199.99. It is distributed nationwide and can be ordered via Chicken Cock’s website, Flaviar, or Caskers.

 

Before I get to my tasting notes, I must thank Chicken Cock for sending me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and dive deep into this Limited-Edition Bourbon.

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass, intending to sip it neat. Inside, the liquid appeared as deep, reddish-brown. A medium-thick rim dropped thin, lightning-fast tears that crashed back into the pool.

 

Nose: The rich aroma consisted of black cherries, ripe plums, dark chocolate, caramel, and oak. When I pulled the air through my lips, I found cherry vanilla.  

 

Palate: Red Stave’s mouthfeel was thick and weighty. It rolled across my tongue, leaving in its wake flavors of cherries, currants, and dark chocolate on the front. At my palate’s midpoint, I encountered caramel apples and vanilla cream. The back became spicy with nutmeg, clove, and French oak.

 

Finish: Clove, French oak, nutmeg, and cherries remained behind, contributing to Red Stave’s long, lingering finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: For me, Chicken Cock’s whiskeys have been hit-and-miss. Once I filled my glass and started nosing, I handed it to Mrs. Whiskeyfellow, who looked almost orgasmic as she began sniffing. The nose was enticing. My palate experienced nothing but pleasure as I concentrated while sipping. Its finish was long; I wished it wouldn’t end.

 

My knee-jerk reaction to a $200.00 no-age-statement American whiskey is to approach it cautiously. And yet, I believe Red Stave is worth the premium. It earns my no-regrets Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.