Fighting Cock Bourbon Whiskey
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To be completely honest I’ve been putting off trying Fighting Cock Bourbon because the bottle looks like Christian Audigier’s attempt at minimalism. For my eye, it’s just not an appealing design but it has won awards for exactly that further proving that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Due to this preconceived perception, I was fearing the worse when I received the bottle, but I’m happy to report that my fears were completely unfounded and that I’ve re-learned my lesson about judging a bourbon by its label design.
Owned by Heaven Hill, Fighting Cock is a brand that’s been set to court the younger drinker and lives in that $20 range where it’s accessible and you don’t feel like you’ve wasted a ton of money on a gamble for trying it. It’s also in that beautiful spot with Wild Turkey 101 where you can get a good versatile bourbon for cheap. The high proof lends itself to cocktails, stands up to ice and a splash of water only improves it. It’s also pretty good neat and for the details on that aspect continue reading below.
ABV: 51.5%
Age: 6 years
Price: $20*
Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
NOSE
This is one heck of a spicy bourbon. As it unfolds that spice is accompanied by notes of caramel, wood, dark fruit, vanilla and a nutty undercurrent. There is a sharp sucker punch of acetone astringency that comes and goes but overall the nose is rich and pleasant.
PALATE
Once we hit the palate all the fruit is gone, but that mega dose of spice remains and is pocketed with notes of wood, toasted nuts, caramel and vanilla. Like the nose, the palate is rich and bold, but again that sucker punching acetone shows up and BAM you get wholloped at the end with it.
FINISH
This may come as a complete surprise, but spice again leads the finish with notes of wood, caramel and toasted nuts keeping it company on it’s long fade.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
A bit spice heavy, but all in all a decent balance between it and the sweeter notes. Rich round body and a thick oily texture that has an appropriate amount of heat help keep this guy in the mid 80s.
OVERALL
Funny name, good bourbon. It’s rich spice driven nose, palate and finish make it easy to drink neat and it’s high proof keeps this chicken kickin’ in cocktails. A little bit of water releases more spice and a touch of citrus on the nose and on the palate it brings up more caramel and toasted nuts while taming the spice and astringency a bit. Needless to say, a splash is recommended. All in all it’s a decent 6 year bourbon that’s bottled at a proper strength and sold at a great price. Without a doubt a great value in the world of bourbon.
Nailed this one, my favorite daily pour class bourbon. Fighting cock is almost as good as Wild Turkey 101, at a better price.
As always, I’m glad I follow you reviews! I probably wouldn’t have bought this otherwise, unless I was extremely bored and in the mood to try something I’d never otherwise purchase.
I’m flying blind on this, but I’d guess this has a high rye mash bill. If so, that’s part of the reason I like it. It would certainly explain the spicy character. Overall, this has been very good neat with a splash of water, and an excellent cocktail addition as well.
Thanks, once more, for your cogent and stereotype-defying reviews!
Thanks Will, always happy to steer people towards good whiskey.
Is there a difference between this bottle and the one without an age statement?
The NAs one has younger bourbon in it. All of the bottles around here still have the 6 year age statement on it, but as soon as the stores run out and carry the NAS I plan on picking it up and doing them side by side to see how different.
The NAS version is raw. If you taste it/review it, I think you’ll notice a difference.
I plan on picking it up at some point. I still have about 3/4 of this bottle and it would be a good test.
I picked this up because I wanted something skin of Wild Turkey 101 that I hadn’t tried before. Good stuff, lots of hot peppery spices, almost too intense to take neat. Add a splash of water and lots of subtler notes open up. Cinnamon, hazelnut, nutmeg. Might have been better at 46-48%.
Nice thing with the higher proof stuff is you can water it down. Low proof has no where to go :) Cheers!
Good whiskey, but my only negative comment would be the hangover. I love the burn, the taste, and the price which is only $14.99 here in Arkansas. I’ve bought it twice and both times I have woke up worth the biggest migraine headaches in my life lol. It could just be me. Maybe I need to drink more water before bed but I would definitely recommend this whiskey.
I’d definitely recommend more water in there ;)
bought a jug today, all that is sold here in north carolina is NA. from first sniff, you can tell this is a Heaven Hill bourbon. not quite as smooth as EW single barrell, but not bad. good buy at $14 for 750ml. nice neat, cheap enough to have on hand for those who like their bourbon with soda pop.
scott
I haven’t had the NAS version yet, but might need to pick it up to try it against the older one. You’re right though, at $14 it’s an incredible deal.
Your reveiw is greatly appreciated and spot on in my opinion. I am not a great fan of several of the Heaven Hill Bourbons, this is one of the exceptions. I enjoy a good strong flavorful whiskey that also provides a good balance between strength and character. Spicy it is and the hints of astringent thinning agents only adds to the mouthfeel and subsequent ting on the epiglotis. As the initial punch subsides the subtle flavors arise, then peak, fall, and reawake for a long spicy, slightly fruit/nut, wood and carmel finish. A great value and a true classic old school bourbon. Like Dad used to drink.
A final Ode, and send off to Fighting Cock. And why I’m finally done with this stuff forever! A manifesto:
Let it be known that I could NEVER be accused of being a neophyte, lightweight, greenhorn, etc, bourbon drinker. I also have a deep, sincere passion for bourbon.
Staple food bourbons in this household include Old Grand Dad 114, plenty of Henry McKenna 100, Old Forester 100, Knob Creek, (when I crave maple syrup) Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig, Wild Turkey 101, and so forth. In other words, proven value bourbons.
I, like many others, LOVE value bourbons. Hence this is why I was first attracted to Fighting Cock. But after four patient, successive years of trying a bottle a year, being very fair, and open minded, I’m flat out done with it for eternity!
Josh’s quote, “This is one heck of a spicy bourbon,” is an extreme understatement to me. This “stuff” is the ONLY bourbon that has ever fried the entire roof of my mouth after only a couple sips, to the point of being out of commission for four days to heal. Even Old Grand Dad 114 straight doesn’t do that to me!
When I first endured a bottle of this stuff several years ago, I still vividly remember looking at the label, then scoffing at it and the name. Then . . . upon drinking the first a glass of it, I began to ponder the “appropriate” name for it. . .
After finishing the first bottle, I saw the damn Genius of naming it Fighting Cock!
This stuff is ugly, harsh and brutal. Yea, it’s target market it well thought out: Young, testosterone driven, ego based guys. I probably would have been drawn to it myself in my youth!
Looking through the “value” based perspective, I can see NO reason to buy this stuff, unless you are into self-punishment, or, can’t get Evan Williams BIB in your area, (which is an infinitely better choice, for at least a dozen or so reasons.) Or why not splurge the extra two bucks or so, and get Old Grand Dad BIB, which is a GREAT value and vastly superior to this rocket fuel.
I usually buy a bottle when on sale. Got a bottle for mother’s day for $14, bottle went straight to the freezer. While I and the other dad waited on the mothers, we kept our spirits up with an occasional shot that was so cold the shot glass frosted before drinking. good stuff. ok straight or mixed with cola or 7up.
Just sayin’, I like the Fighting Cock 6-Year. Never tried the NAS version though. Scored a dusty bottle on the S.F. Bay Area peninsula (the guys who staff the store I found it at allowed me back stage access the their storage room where I found a bottle marked ’98 on the bottom, which at 6 Years old likely makes it “Old Bernheim” or pre-1996 fire Heaven Hill). Boiled peanuts, barrel char, and spice. Nice, especially for the price of $15.
This guy(?) 2 above would also not be able to handle Bookers(at 127), which I consider one of the best small batch bourbons on the market, if he can’t handle a little old 103 proof bourbon.
Tried this at the local Bourbon bar, being that the really good stuff is vastly overpriced(and the place has terrible pours) and was pleasantly surprised how good it was. Been a drinker of small batch since it came out on the market, way back when. Have tried about every one and for the price, Fighting Cock (named probably after the University of South Carolina Gamecocks) can’t be beat. It’s great on the rocks, which imo is the only way to drink bourbon.
Agreed, there’s nothing over-the-top here in terms of spiciness or heat. It’s just a damn good bourbon, with an excellent spiciness while still having balance. At twice the price, I’d still happily buy it, just less often :) At the current price, it’s almost hard to account for in the current bourbon market. Could be selling it for at least $30 and more people might buy it, with the snobs turning up their nose at bottom shelf prices giving it a chance (“oh, it’s expensive, must be good!”) Same type of people who spend $50 plus on the absolutely undrinkable JW Kelly or Chattanooga 1816 reserve. Moonshine pretending to be whiskey.
And sorry to disappoint if you’re an SC fan – the name has nothing to do with the gamecocks, but is rather a parity of the Wild Turkey name, which they were directly seeking to challenge with the release.
Oops, my bad. Heaven Hill didn’t start distilling at Bernheim until after buying the “New Bernheim” distillery in Louisville from Diageo in 1999. That would make my dusty bottle of Fighting Cock 6-Year a product of the old Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown before the fire in 1996.
It’s absolutely amszing. Strong, flavorful and robust. Sip it neat. Very reasonable price and I’m pretty sure that more hair has grown on my chest.
New bottle corny and bland, youngish like a corn whiskey. I’m disappointed, this was my favorite since 2010 when I took up bourbon.
I guess they’re saving their good stuff for pricier brands.
Buyer beware
Probably. There are a handful of whiskies I need to re-try now that they’ve dropped their age statements.
I shouldn’t be too hard on FC, it’s still good for the money, only $15 in louisville. I call it an 82 or 83 on your scale
I haven’t seen it for a bit in LA, but could just be hiding. Seems like everything here is allocated now :P
Tried this today for the first time. My normal go to is Wild Turkey 101, but the price in Atlanta keeps going up. For the price, I really enjoyed this bourbon. Thanks for the review! I can always count on your opinion!
Glad you liked it. Thanks Clyde, cheers!
I really enjoy your reviews! I can always count on your opinion. Thanks for forvwhat you are doing!
Thanks for your review – was in doubt to buy or not to buy, but made up my mind and didn’t regret.
In Moscow it costs around 21$ – and it is the cheapest good bourbon here.
Wow, that’s about what it goes for here. Cheers!
This was the cheapest bourbon in a very expensive liquor store. At $19 it was a steal, but only in comparison to the $53 Eagle Rare, for example (sold elsewhere in NJ for $30).
I like it. Not as much as WT101, EW, or Buffalo Trace, but it was a nice change, and my bottle doesn’t have the acetone mentioned in earlier posts.
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Superstar – An extra mark for rare spirits that transcend their category, giving new meaning to “delicious”. (A+)
5 Stars: Simply fantastic – can’t recommend enough (A)
4 Stars: Very good – highly recommended (B+/A-)
3 Stars: Above average – worth checking out (B-/B)
2.5 Stars: Average- drinkable, possible minor flaws (C+)*
2 Stars: Below average – flawed, not entirely enjoyable (C/C-)
1 Stars: Terrible – only recommendation is to avoid (D)
0 Stars– Abysmal, so bad it doesn’t deserve a rating (F)
*all other 1/2 stars are half steps showing increasing or decreasing quality but not a full level jump
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Fighting Cock Bourbon Whiskey
