Chicken Cock Cotton Club 20 Years Canadian Rye Whiskey

Originally established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, Chicken Cock was forced to move production up to Canada during Prohibition. The Canadian Rye whiskey produced during that period was then smuggled back into the U.S. in tin cans, earning the brand the nickname, “The whiskey in a tin can.”

Grain & Barrel Spirits, the company behind the Chicken Cock brand’s revival, continues to push the brand upmarket, releasing limited expressions of all kinds of (sourced) whiskeys, revolving around bourbon and rye. This latest expression is a doozy: A 20 year old Canadian rye named in honor of Harlem’s Cotton Club, where the original Chicken Cock was the house whiskey back in the 1920s and ’30s.

This replica pre-prohibition era collectible tin honors our rich history and limited-time-only return to a period where Chicken Cock ventured north to carry on its tradition of bringing high quality whiskey to patrons across the country.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Aged 20 years in a used bourbon barrel, this fabulous whiskey glistens with a soft, Yellowish-Brown Hue

Nose: Bazooka bubble gum, sweet corn, butterscotch, soft vanilla, sunny delight, fresh cut grass, hint of pine, light and sweet. Sweet candy combined with slight grassy rye, somewhat earthy notes, hints of citrus, orange peel, spice and white pepper.

Palate: Toasted oak, honey, soft vanilla, tempered notes of lemon and orange, touch of ginger and a playful balance of sweet and spice

Finish: Light dusty oak, rye spice, pepper, mild malt, leaning dry and a touch astringent. Medium length and intensity.

Aged 20 Years

Mashbill: 90% Rye, 10% Malted Barley