EP 28: The Island Rooster Did It

The Friskey Whiskey Podcast

In this episode join MikeD and TI as they go through some unique ryes with our guest Steve!

Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rye $210.99 95 proof Mash bill 95% rye, 5% malted barley
Cask Type: New charred American oak; finished in Caribbean rum casks

History:
First established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock Whiskey rose to popularity during the 19th century. James A. Miller built a distillery and started making Chicken Cock, a type of whiskey unique to the bluegrass region. By 1886, the distillery was making 600 bushels per day.
Prohibition began in 1920’s and the Distillery was forced to sell the to Distillers Corporation Limited, of Montreal, Canada. They purchased legal rights to the Chicken Cock name and began production outside of the U.S.
During the 1920’s it was a staple of prohibition-era speakeasies, like the famous Cotton Club, where it was smuggled inside in nondescript tin cans, earning it the nickname, “the Whiskey in a tin can.
After prohibition Chicken Cock basically disappeared after being one of the most popular whiskeys of the era.
In 2011, Chicken Cock’s fortunes changed when spirits entrepreneur Matti Anttila discovered the brand while researching the early days of distillation in the U.S. From that point on he focused on bringing back the brand and started Grain and Barrel Spirits. The Whiskey is now being distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company in collaboration with Grain and Barrel Spirits.

–Island Rooster is a limited edition Kentucky Straight Rye finished in rum barrels. Inspired by a trip to the Caribbean, where roosters announce the coming day, they decided to finish 25 barrels of their Signature Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey in Caribbean rum casks (up to 4 - 6 months).

Nose: spices, pepper, rye, molasses
Taste: vanilla, butterscotch, pepper, sweet rum molasses

Very Olde St. Nick Harvest Rye $190 119.2 proof Mash bill: Undisclosed

Very Old St. Nick Distillery is owned and operated by Marci Palatella, who also owns Preservation Distillery. Established in 1986.Famed for sourcing amazing older whiskies the brand quickly gained popularity in bourbon and rye enthusiast circles. However, as demand for aged stocks of bourbon and rye skyrocketed across the board supplies for VOSN dried up and so for many years the brand lay dormant. Frustrated with being unable to source the ‘magically intense barrels of yore’ in 2015, Palatella purchased a tobacco farm in Bardstown KY and transformed it into a small craft distillery with a visitors center. Named the Preservation Distillery, Palatella’s dream of bringing back brands such as VOSN and Rare Perfection had become a reality and with production beginning in October of 2017, the team at Preservation reignited their efforts to source amazing barrels for these historic brands whilst their own whisky matures. The distillery produces 100% bourbon, rye, and malt whiskey using locally-sourced grains that are distilled using a pot still in 1 – 3 barrel batches. Today the Preservation Distillery produces brands such as Wattie Boone & Sons, Cowboy Little Barrel, Rare Perfection, and Very Olde St. Nick.
Nose: baking spices, pepper, dried fruit, charred oak,
Taste: caramelized nuts, baking spices, green apple, pepper spice, charred oak, dark chocolate, dried red fruits

Bonus Whiskey: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye