Chicken Cock Wheated Bourbon 750ML

Chicken Cock Wheated Bourbon 750ML is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) featuring the brand's first-ever wheated mash bill in over 168 years of history. This expression replaces the former Small Batch in Chicken Cock's core lineup, signaling a deliberate shift toward a softer, wheat-driven flavor profile aged a minimum of five years.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Minimum 5 Years Old  |  Produced at Bardstown Bourbon Company

Production & Heritage

Chicken Cock traces its origins to 1856, making it one of the oldest bourbon brands in American whiskey history. The current wheated expression is produced through Bardstown Bourbon Company's Collaborative Distilling Program in Bardstown, Kentucky. The mash bill consists of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley — a notable departure from the rye-based recipes that defined the brand's previous releases. The bourbon is aged in barrels with a level 4 char, the deepest standard char available, which drives pronounced caramel and toasted oak character into the spirit over its minimum five-year maturation. This marks the first time in the brand's long history that a wheated mash bill has appeared in the core range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honeyed wheat bread and vanilla lead the nose, followed by soft oak, caramel, and a delicate layer of fruit. There is an underlying warmth reminiscent of baked dough and brown sugar that deepens as the bourbon opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is immediately creamy, with a noticeable sweetness from the wheat that carries toffee and baked apple across the mid-palate. Warm biscuit notes emerge alongside cordial cherry and cream soda, with gentle baking spices providing structure without overwhelming the softer grain character. The 94-proof bottling strength gives it enough weight to stand up without any harsh edges.

Finish: Smooth and lingering, the finish delivers vanilla cream and toasted oak with a trailing softness of wheat grain. Dried fruit and a wisp of brown sugar keep the ending interesting without turning heavy.

How to Drink Chicken Cock Wheated

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal starting point — the 94-proof strength opens up well without dilution washing out the wheat character. On the rocks, the bourbon maintains its creamy sweetness as the ice slowly integrates. For cocktails, this wheated profile excels in three specific applications: a Bourbon Old Fashioned, where the toffee and vanilla complement bitters without competing; a Paper Plane, where the soft grain backbone balances the Aperol and amaro components; and a Whiskey Sour, where the natural sweetness of the wheat mash bill reduces the need for excess simple syrup.

Best For

• Wheated bourbon enthusiasts exploring beyond Maker's Mark and Weller
• Gifting a bourbon lover something with genuine historical provenance
• Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-friendly Kentucky straight bourbon
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wheated and rye-recipe bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chicken Cock Wheated taste like? It delivers a creamy, dessert-leaning profile led by toffee, baked apple, and vanilla cream, with warm biscuit and gentle baking spices adding depth. The wheat-heavy mash bill produces a noticeably softer, rounder bourbon than rye-forward alternatives.

How does Chicken Cock Wheated compare to Maker's 46? Both are wheated Kentucky bourbons with prominent oak and sweetness, and tasters have noted close similarities in their effervescent oak spice and wheaty texture. Chicken Cock Wheated is bottled at 94 proof compared to Maker's 46 at 94 proof, but uses a traditional level 4 char barrel rather than Maker's seared French oak staves, resulting in a slightly different oak influence.

Is Chicken Cock Wheated good for sipping neat? Yes — the 47% ABV provides enough intensity for neat drinking while the wheat-forward mash bill keeps the palate smooth and approachable without excessive burn.

Where is Chicken Cock Wheated made? It is produced at Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky, through their Collaborative Distilling Program, which allows partner brands to distill to their own custom specifications at the facility.

What foods pair well with Chicken Cock Wheated? Smoked pork or pulled pork sandwiches complement the bourbon's caramel sweetness. Pecan pie or bread pudding mirror its baked dough and brown sugar notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère contrast the creamy palate with savory richness. Dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the vanilla and toasted oak finish.

What sizes does Chicken Cock Wheated come in? The standard release is available in the 750ml bottle size.

Is Chicken Cock Wheated worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium wheated bourbon with a minimum five-year age statement, a specific mash bill disclosure, and production at a respected Kentucky distillery — factors that place it competitively against other named-age wheated bourbons in the category.

Why Chicken Cock Wheated?

This is the first wheated bourbon in Chicken Cock's history dating back to 1856, making it a genuinely new chapter for one of Kentucky's oldest whiskey names. The disclosed mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley paired with level 4 char barrels and a minimum five-year age statement provides a level of transparency that many competitors in this price tier do not offer. Production at Bardstown Bourbon Company — widely regarded as one of the most technically advanced distilleries operating today — adds credibility to the liquid itself. For drinkers who appreciate wheated bourbons but want something outside the usual Maker's Mark and Weller orbit, this expression fills a meaningful gap with genuine provenance behind the label.