Chicken Cock "Ryeteous Blonde" Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Review

 

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

 

“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

 

A hundred years ago, when Prohibition was in full swing, $10.00 to $14.00 was a lot of money. Accounting for inflation, roughly between $182.00 to $254.00 in today’s money!

 

Unfortunately, in the 1950s, the distillery in Paris burned down, and the brand was dead. However, in 2011 Matti Anttila, while he was researching older distilleries, came across Chicken Cock, 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 little boy in me always giggles at the name Chicken Cock. Yet, the whiskey produced under the Chicken Cock name is completely serious.

 

Today’s serious whiskey from Chicken Cock is called Ryeteous Blonde. Initially released in 2020, this Kentucky Straight Rye finished in Blonde Ale barrels is back for 2025.

 

“The Ryeteous Blonde is a true fusion of brewing and distillation, crafted through an innovative collaboration between Goodwood Brewery and Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye. Goodwood brews a custom blonde ale designed to complement the Rye's bold character. This ale is first aged in freshly emptied rye barrels, absorbing deep, spicy complexity, before the barrels are refilled with Kentucky Straight Rye—creating an extraordinary exchange of flavors.” – Grain & Barrel Spirits

 

I’m not a beer drinker (unless you count ginger or root), so I have no idea what Blonde Ale is supposed to taste like. I’ve also never had a whiskey finished in Blonde Ale. As such, this is a true #DrinkCurious adventure for me.

 

Before I get started, I must thank Chicken Cock for providing me with a sample of Ryteous Blonde in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Rye
• Distiller: Bardstown Bourbon Company
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
• Cooperage: Matured in New, Charred Oak. Finished in Blonde Ale Barrels.
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
• Price per 750mL: $69.99

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The honey-colored Rye formed a thicker rim, producing a wavy curtain of tears. After it fell, what remained were tightly spaced, bold, and slow, which seemed unusual. I was able to reproduce this effect several times.

 

Nose: After allowing Ryeteous Blonde to rest in my glass for about 15 minutes, I brought it under my nose and inhaled. I smelled almonds, peanut shells, and cedar. As I kept exploring, I found vanilla and leather. Drawing the aroma into my mouth, I discovered butterscotch.

 

Palate: The first sip revealed a creamy texture, and before I could begin to figure out the palate, my tongue was sizzling with black pepper and clove. The second took care of the palate shock. The front included French toast and baked apples. Flavors of rye spice, hops, and pears were at my mid-palate. The back included clove, dried tobacco leaves, and black pepper.

 

Finish: The black pepper and rye spices became intense. Somehow, the clove attempted to calm those but didn’t quite accomplish the task. Baked apples and crisp pears tangoed across my tongue, and that hoppy quality turned bitter, which ramped up from there. By the time everything fell off, 1:33 had elapsed for a medium-long duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Ryeteous Blonde had an unusual taste; as I said earlier, I’m not a beer drinker and have no idea what a Blonde Ale should taste like; however, its influence seemed obvious. I’ve had Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye, and Ryeteous Blonde is an entirely different whiskey.

 

I gravitate to the unusual; anything not “me too” captures my attention. Ryeteous Blonde grabbed my shoulders, stared into my eyes, and then did the Robert DeNiro thing from Meet the Fockers with its fingers. Were that literal, I don’t think I could look DeNiro in the eyes. I can’t say that I enjoyed what I was drinking.

 

I enjoyed the aroma, mouthfeel, and the front. The rest, not so much. Can I taste the quality here? Absolutely. It just isn’t my thing. Because of that, I recommend you check this one out at a Bar before committing seriously. 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.