Fighting Cock 6 years

About the Fighting Cock 6 years

Fighting Cock 6 years is a Kentucky straight bourbon whisky made in the United States. Heaven Hill distils it in Bardstown, the small town long known as the bourbon capital of the United States. The Fighting Cock brand carries a competitive backstory. Heaven Hill launched it to take on Wild Turkey 101. They then bottled it at 103 proof. That works out to 51.5% ABV, just two proof points above its famous rival. The name nods to the fighting cocks once kept on Kentucky farms. Staff at the distillery still call it the kickin chicken, and the bottle wears that scrappy spirit with pride. Heaven Hill itself runs deep in bourbon history. The Shapira family founded the distillery in 1935, near the end of Prohibition. It now ranks among the largest family-owned spirits producers in the country. The mash bill here leans heavily on corn. Rye and malted barley round out the recipe and add backbone. In the glass, Fighting Cock 6 years shows off its bold streak. Sweet caramel and honey lead the way on the nose. Vanilla follows close behind, soft and rounded. The palate brings warm cinnamon and a punch of black pepper. Rye spice keeps it lively from the first sip to the last. The finish leans dry and woody, with charred oak and a faint smoky char. This is a higher-proof bourbon, so it carries real heat. A few drops of water can tame that fire if you like. Even so, most fans pour Fighting Cock 6 years neat and savour its spicy, full-flavoured ride.