We love a good comeback (Robert Downey Jr. and Britney Spears, anyone?), so we were thrilled to see an old-timey favorite try to stake its place again in the whiskey market. It’s called Chicken Cock Whiskey and you’ve probably never seen it before because it hasn’t been available for nearly a century. We’ve always wondered about the stuff our great-grandparents were drinking, so we are a bit intrigued…
Chicken Cock Distilling started in Paris, Kentucky back in 1856 and it was a significant 19th century Bourbon brand. Their big claim to fame was during the Prohibition era; they moved production to Canada and then would smuggle it back into the United States in tin cans. Served in famous speakeasies, like Cotton Club in Harlem, people would order Chicken Cock Whiskey and be presented with a tin can at their table. Inside the tin can was a bottle of the whiskey. Duke Ellington even wrote about Chicken Cock in his memoirs and at $15 per bottle, the whiskey was enjoyed more by folks with money to burn.
People tried to bring back the Chicken Cock Whiskey brand a few times over the years, but with drinking habits changing, it never really caught on again. This time seems to be different. They have the perfect mix of old and new – same great whiskies, and they even pay homage to the tin can thing by packaging their product in cool looking aluminum bottles. But, keeping it modern, they’ve got a rad website, they’re on all sorts of social media (we especially like their Instagram) and they’re hosting parties and events to get the word out.
Chicken Cock Whiskey is bottled in Charleston, South Carolina and it comes in three different varieties:
- Chicken Cock Southern Spiced Whiskey
- Chicken Cock Cinnamon Whiskey
- Chicken Cock Root Beer Whiskey
Since their whiskies bring some unique flavors to the table, they also offer up some good recipes for a Root Beer Float, a Chicken’s Inferno (cinnamon whiskey with ginger beer), and a Root Beer Mint Julep.
It’s nice to see a classic brand making a comeback and we’re looking forward to seeing how they do.