The new expression starts with Chicken Cock’s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and is finished in Caribbean rum casks for at least six months. Island Rooster was inspired by a trip to the Caribbean, where the distillers found roosters announcing every new morning.
Island Rooster’s mash bill is 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and the liquid is bottled at 95 proof (47.5% ABV) in an apothecary-style embossed bottle with a metal cup cap.
Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the whiskey’s production was limited to just 25 barrels.

Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye distiller’s notes:
Color: Dark amber.
Aroma: An array of spices, pepper, with a hint of rye grassiness and sweet molasses touched with oak overtones.
Flavor: A complexity of spices, vanilla, butterscotch and pepper, complemented by rum sweetness.
Finish: Long, with the rye characteristics predominant but enhanced with a touch of sweet, and a buttery mouthfeel.