PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
HeavenHill Distilleries in Bardstown is thelargest independentfamily-owned spirits company in theUnited States —producers of Elijah Craig, EvanWilliams, Rittenhouse Rye,Larceny, and one of the most extensiveportfolios of American whiskey brandsassembled under a single distillerygroup. When Bernie Lubbers, HeavenHill's American whiskey brandambassador, discussed FightingCock on the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast, hewas direct about thefounding philosophy: HeavenHill likes to do things "better andcheaper" than the competition.Fighting Cock was built specifically asa direct competitorto Wild Turkey 101 — and positioned twoproof points higher, at 103, tomake that positioningunmistakable.
The name is memorable,the marketing is deliberatelyirreverent, and the bourbon insidethe bottle has been a favoritethroughout the South for years — the"kickin' chicken," as the brand itselfdescribes it, with the kind ofstraightforward, honest, no-pretenseidentity that a certain category ofbourbon buyer findsimmediately and entirely appealing. Nosingle barrel story, no age statementdrama, no allocated release — just a103-proof Kentucky straight bourbonfrom one of the mostexperienced distilling operations inAmerica at a price point that makesit genuinely accessible.
At 103 proof,Fighting Cock delivers what the proofpromises without the heat that manyhigher-proof bourbons bring: vanillaand caramel leading the nose,dark fruit and nutty touches addingdepth, then spice and wood on thepalate alongside toasted nuts andbaking spice, and a finish that carriescaramel and cinnamon through a closeof genuine warmth. Whiskey Consensusfound it "simple and balanced — proofand flavors in perfect harmony, withjust the right amount of heat and justthe right classic flavors presentingone after the other. At less than $20this is a pour that will stay on myshelf year after year." BreakingBourbon called it "an easy drinkingexperience" that "delivers an enjoyablebourbon for the price" and "holdsup well against its competition in thisvalue range." The bad boy ofbourbon. The kickin' chicken. 103proof for the price of an 80.
Fighting Cock is produced by HeavenHill Distilleries in Bardstown,Kentucky — the largestindependent family-owned spiritscompany in the UnitedStates, operating since 1935 andhousing one of the largest reserves ofaging bourbon in thecountry across its Bardstown andLouisville operations. Thedistillery's portfolio spans everythingfrom the budget tier (Evan Williams)through the premium tier (Elijah Craig,Parker's Heritage) to super-premiumallocated releases, and Fighting Cockoccupies a specific anddeliberately confident position in thevalue segment: 103 proof,straight bourbon, from one of America'smost capable and mostexperienced bourbon producers.
Themash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and12% malted barley — a standard HeavenHill high-corn bourbonmash bill that produces the classicAmerican bourbon flavor profile of cornsweetness balanced by rye spice andmalted barley complexity. Thebourbon is aged in new charred Americanwhite oak barrels; the labelcurrently states a minimum of 36 months aging, though Heaven Hill has specifically stated they continue to include older whiskey in the blend. The bourbon formerly carried a 6-year age statement that was removed in 2015 during the bourbon boom's strain on aged inventory — a common industry decision of that era. At 103 proof, the bourbon is bottled higher than most value-tier bourbons, and the Heaven Hill distilling expertise keeps the alcohol well-integrated rather than aggressive.
Whiskey Consensus (confirmed):
"Classic bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel present first, with a little hint of young corn and baking spice joining a little later on. The finish is medium in length. Oak and honey seem to be the dominant notes, although a touch ofrye spice is also present toward theend. Simple and balanced — proof andflavors in perfect harmony with justthe right amount of heat and just theright classic flavors presenting oneafter the other. At less than $20 thisis a pour that will stay on my shelfyear after year."
Breaking Bourbon (confirmed):
"Fighting Cock offers a simple and smoothdrinking experience that almost allwill enjoy. Holds up well when comparedto its competition in this value pricerange. This cock might not have a lotof bite, but it delivers an easydrinking experience at an everyman'sprice."
Heaven Hill official tagline:
"Thebad boy of bourbon is bottled at arobust 103 proof. The kickin' chickenhas been a favorite throughout theSouth for years."
Nose
Warmamber — the Heaven Hill house characterarriving immediately with its telltalefloral, herbal, and nutty signature.Caramel and vanilla lead with classicbourbon warmth. Dark fruit adds aslightly richer and more complexsecondary note. Spice from the 13% ryemash bill adds the most specificallystructured aromatic backbone. A nuttyquality — the Heaven Hill house style'smost specifically distinguishingaromatic — adds depth alongside woodand a touch of dusty cornmash. Honey and caramel round out thenose with a nougat-adjacent sweetness.
Palate
Thick and substantialmouthfeel — surprisingly so for abourbon at this price point. Fruitleads the entry before a big dose ofspice takes over, carried on afoundation of classic bourbon vanillaand caramel. Toastednuts and charred wood build throughthe mid-palate. Dark cocoa powder addsa quiet richness. The 103 proof iswell-controlled and genuinelyintegrated rather than aggressive — afunction of Heaven Hill's extensiveexperience managing high-proof bourbonproduction across the broadest valuerange in Kentucky.
Finish
Medium-length and warming, with caramel andcinnamon carrying the close mostpersistently. Oak and honey lingeralongside a touch of rye spice at thevery end. The pronounced spice thatlingers after the sip is the finish'smost specifically memorable quality —warm, honest, and genuinely satisfyingfor a bourbon at this proof and thisprice.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Kentucky Straight BourbonWhiskey |
| ABV / Proof | 51.5% ABV/ 103 Proof |
| Distillery | HeavenHill Distilleries — Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Founded | Heaven Hill, 1935 |
| Company | Largest independentfamily-owned spirits company inthe US |
| Sibling Brands | Evan Williams · Elijah Craig ·Rittenhouse Rye · Larceny · Parker'sHeritage |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn ·13% rye · 12% malted barley |
| Age | NAS — label states minimum36 months; Heaven Hill includesolder whiskey |
| Former Age Statement | 6 years —removed 2015 |
| Original Positioning | Direct WildTurkey 101 competitor — 2proof points higher |
| Bernie Lubbers Quote | Heaven Hilldoes things "better andcheaper" than the competition |
| Nickname | "The Kickin' Chicken" ·"The Bad Boy of Bourbon" |
| Regional Identity | Longtimefavorite throughout the South |
| Style / Identity | Straightforward,honest, value 103-proof bourbon —simple, balanced, well-integrated |
| Aromas & Flavors | Caramel,vanilla, dark fruit, nutty, honey,spice, toasted nuts, charred wood,cocoa, cinnamon |
| Cocktail Use | Old Fashioned · Whiskey Sour · Highball· Neat or on the rocks |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Fighting Cock Old Fashioned
2 ozFighting Cock · 1 tsp Demerara syrup ·2 dashes Angostura bitters · expressedorange peel. The 103 proof carriesbeautifully through an Old Fashionedformat, with the caramel andvanilla standing up to the bittersand sugar without disappearing.
Fighting Cock Whiskey Sour
2 oz Fighting Cock · ¾ ozfresh lemon juice · ½ oz simplesyrup. The rye spice and honeycharacter makes this an excellentWhiskey Sour base — and the 103 proofhandles citrus dilution without beingwashed out.
Neat or On the Rocks
The most specifically recommendedeveryday serve — the proof is highenough to reward neat sipping withoutwater, but a single large ice cubeopens the vanilla and caramelaromatics noticeably.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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