Chicken Cock Cotton Club Rye 20 Year Canadian Rye Whiskey 750ml

Chicken Cock Cotton Club Rye 20 Year is a limited edition tribute release from Chicken Cock Whiskey, originally founded in Paris, Kentucky in 1856 and known throughout the late 19th and early 20th century as "The Famous Old Brand." During Prohibition the original distillery was forced to move production north to Canada, where the rye whiskey was distilled and then smuggled back into the United States hidden inside tin cans, earning Chicken Cock the enduring nickname "the whiskey in a tin can." It was during this Prohibition era that Chicken Cock rose to fame as the featured house whiskey at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, the iconic Prohibition speakeasy at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue where Duke Ellington and his orchestra had their formative residencies. This 20 year old Canadian rye is built on a 90% rye and 10% malted barley mash bill, aged for two full decades in used bourbon barrels, and bottled at a robust 100 proof in a Prohibition era replica apothecary style bottle housed in a commemorative collectible tin, modeled on the original tin cans used to smuggle the whiskey across the border. Released December 2021 by Grain and Barrel Spirits, this is a strictly limited release with only 1,595 six pack cases produced (approximately 9,570 bottles worldwide).

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Soft yellowish brown with rich amber highlights, glistening with age.

Nose: Sweet candy and cotton candy, butterscotch, marzipan, baked apple, overripe banana, grassy rye, earthy notes, citrus and orange peel, lemongrass, mint, subtle pine, and white pepper.

Palate: Vanilla, oak, herbal rye spice, cinnamon, black pepper, sweet molasses, brown sugar, butterscotch, citrus, and toasted oak, with the classic Canadian softness wrapped around a high rye mash bill backbone.

Finish: Long and balanced, with lingering pepper, spice, sweetness, vanilla, and oak in a buttery mouthfeel that fades slowly.

FAQ

Why is a Kentucky brand bottling Canadian rye? Chicken Cock was originally established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856 and was one of America's most famous brands by the late 19th century. When Prohibition shut down American production in 1920, Chicken Cock moved its operation to Canada to continue making whiskey legally. The Canadian rye was then smuggled back into the United States hidden inside tin cans, which is how Chicken Cock earned its enduring nickname "the whiskey in a tin can." This 20 year old Canadian rye honors that Prohibition era chapter of the brand's history.

What was the Cotton Club connection? During Prohibition, Chicken Cock was the featured house whiskey at the Cotton Club, the legendary Harlem speakeasy at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue. The whiskey was ceremoniously opened tableside for patrons while Duke Ellington and his orchestra performed on the Cotton Club stage during their famous residency at the club in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Cotton Club is one of the most historically significant venues in American music history, and Chicken Cock was the house pour throughout its golden era.

How rare is this release? Strictly limited. Grain and Barrel Spirits released only 1,595 six pack cases globally, or approximately 9,570 individual bottles, in December 2021. Original SRP was $499.99 and the release has been steadily appreciating on the secondary market. The collectible tin packaging is a significant part of the bottle's collector value and should be preserved intact.

How does Canadian rye compare to American rye? Canadian rye traditionally tends to be softer, sweeter, and more approachable than American straight rye, often with butterscotch, vanilla, and dessert leaning sweetness. At 90% rye and 100 proof, this Chicken Cock release leans toward the bigger, spicier end of the Canadian spectrum, with the 20 year maturation in used bourbon barrels developing significant complexity beyond standard Canadian whisky.

Where can I buy Chicken Cock Cotton Club Rye 20 Year online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide. With only ~9,570 bottles in global existence and the release now several years past launch, sealed bottles in the original collectible tin are increasingly scarce.