Chicken Cock Bootlegger's Reserve

Chicken Cock Bootlegger's Reserve, NAS, 45 %

Chicken Cock Bootlegger's Reserve

Grain & Barrel Spirits of Charleston (South Carolina) have brought the old brand Chicken Cock back to life. A bit of a weird name that, but seeing as it dates back to 1856 it probably has nothing to do with transgender issues at all.

Anywho.. the  Chicken Cock Bootlegger's Reserve is an odd bird (pardon the pun!). This is a blend of sourced spirits; both bourbon and rye whiskey (from Kentucky and Indiana). The final, composite product has a given mashbill of 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley. I guess this sort of makes it a rye, but sort of not, so let's not get into that whole discussion.

The company behind this product has an approach that is a fair bit more honest and transparent than many of their US competitors. They do not pretend to be a distillery or distillers. Here's what they say:

"Like many of our forebearers we are blenders not producers. That may change in the future, but as of today we have the honor of working with some of the best whiskey producers around. For these blends we decided to go for a lighter style whiskey. That means younger whiskey, finished in new oak barrels at our home in Charleston, South Carolina."

The Chicken Cock Bootlegger's Reserve is not for sale in Norway (although you can find it in whisky bars). You can buy it in Sweden at SEK 685 (85750), in the UK at around GBP 32, and in the US at around USD 40.

Nose: Soft and quite positive on first sniff. Cinnamon and potato peel. Vanilla, for sure. A little green on the edges. Mild notes of honey. Slightly nutty with time.

Taste: Medium body and medium sweetness. Comes across as dry-ish. I also find it green-ish. A bit -ish in general, I would say. Black pepper, vanilla, corn and hay.

Finish: Short to medium long finish. A little weird and hard to pin down. Leathery with cinnamon and vanilla. Light notes of polish and caramel.

Comments: Plain and a bit "colourless".

Score (77/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas