Chicken Cock Rye Whiskey
Chicken Cock Rye Whiskey is a 90 proof (45% ABV), 750mL Kentucky straight rye from a 95% rye / 5% malted barley mashbill — the first Chicken Cock rye in over 70 years. The brand, "The Famous Old Brand" of 1856 Paris, Kentucky, was revived in 2012 by entrepreneur Matti Anttila with master distiller Gregg Snyder and Grain & Barrel Spirits, and is now distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
- Aging: new charred American oak
- Heritage: founded 1856, Paris, Kentucky (Bourbon County); house whiskey of the Cotton Club during Prohibition; revived 2012
- Region: Kentucky
The Famous Old Brand's Rye Revival
Chicken Cock's résumé reads like a whiskey novel: founded 1856 by James A. Miller, sealed in tin cans as the Cotton Club's house whiskey during Prohibition, lost to a post-WWII distillery fire, dormant for 60 years, then resurrected by Anttila and Snyder with Bardstown Bourbon Company's collaborative distilling program. The rye — a 95%-rye straight rye — is the brand's spice-forward flagship alongside its bourbon, and SevenFifty notes the revival is now the fourth fastest-growing ultra-premium whiskey in its price tier.
Tasting Notes
Aromatic rye spice with citrus zest, clove, and pepper on the nose; a bold, spicy palate of cinnamon, nutmeg, and honeyed sweetness; a crisp, peppery, lingering finish. The Whiskey Reviewer scored it C+, finding it young but honest — rye-forward warmth all the way down.
How to Enjoy
A natural Manhattan or Sazerac rye at 90 proof — the spice holds up to vermouth and bitters. Compare it with its bourbon sibling from the Chicken Cock line, or browse the rye whiskey shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mashbill? 95% rye, 5% malted barley — a classic high-rye recipe.
What is the proof? 90 proof (45% ABV).
Is this the original 1856 brand? It is the revived brand — the original label went dormant after a 1950s distillery fire and returned in 2012.
For a rye with a genuine Prohibition-era pedigree, order Chicken Cock Rye Whiskey from Del Mesa Liquor's online store today.