Fighting Cock

[sotnsipper]

I picked up another bottle of this just yesterday, it has been a while since I have had any. I remember always drinking this with ice so decided to try it neat. I poured it in the glass and let it warm up a little to room temp. I nosed it a little while it was warming and really thought I was going to be disappointed. It seemed to be a closed book, not letting itself open up. After about 15 min I nosed, no changes, then sipped. Thank goodness my nose was lying to me. It has a very robust mouth feel to it. Lots of pepper and cinnamon. It does have a lot of burn, but it is 103 proof, so that was expected. After about 30 to 45 min, the nose started to open up. Even though this stuff is on the bottom shelves in my area, I would rate it a mid-shelf-er. Now I am sorry I haven't picked up a bottle of this lately.

[p_elliott]

I got a bottle of this for Christmas I really liked it! It has a lot of Pizazz to it. It's not a boring bourbon to say the least. Not a refined review but accurate.

[sotnsipper]

It has a lot of Pizazz to it. Not a refined review but accurate.

Well put! Sometimes the simple reviews explain a lot! Good review!

[kickert]

FC is certainly something worth trying. It won't blow your mind, but for the price it is a steal!! I love how the deep red color challenges you to find the complexity of its burn.

-bk

[ILLfarmboy]

I think It has been a two or three years since I bought a bottle and the bottle I bought had probably sat on the shelf for quite some time before I found it. I remember it as sweet and thin without much depth. Perhaps the brand has improved. I certainly don't recall a "robust mouth feel".

Has anyone who regularly or infrequently buys this bottling noticed a change for the better, say, from four or so years back to the most current bottling from stock purchased at a store with a fairly high turn-over rate?

kickert, sotnsipper, and p_elliott's reviews have got me wanting to try it again.

[sotnsipper]

Has anyone who regularly or infrequently buys this bottling noticed a change for the better, say, from four or so years back to the most current bottling from stock purchased at a store with a fairly high turn-over rate?

kickert, sotnsipper, and p_elliott's reviews have got me wanting to try it again.

I think I fit in the infrequent buyer category. With only a couple years of bourbon under my belt, I cannot speak of the older FC. I have always drank this on ice or in a cocktail. I have been on a mission to revisit all that I have tried, but neat this time. Maybe it is for this reason I was much more satisfied this go around with this bourbon. If the rest of the bottle is this good, it is going to be a regular pour for me. I don't think you will be disappointed if you pick up a bottle for a revisit yourself.

[polyamnesia]

this is going to be my next buy (if that special order of stagg doesn't come in soon!)

[ILLfarmboy]

I picked up a bottle of this today. I'm drinking some right now.

The nose is HH all the way. Reminds me of Evan Williams Black, though I haven't had any EVB since before they dropped the 7 year age statement two or three years back.

Both the nose and the taste is less sweet than I remember, though that may just be the power of suggestion. I was kinda expecting it to be a bit less sweet. The nose is better than the taste which is blunted a bit by alcohol, especially on the finish. I do have to say the nose is better than what I remember. Its not bad. I think it would be better at 7 or 8 years. After spending a couple sessions with it, it will go unused for a while but this bottle, like the last one I bought, will eventually get drained.

[bvscfanatic]

Ha, ha! I'm wearing my red Fighting Cock shirt (complete with the kickin' chicken) that I purchased at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center just yesterday. We made a road trip to Bardstown for something totally unrelated to bourbon (a photo shoot at the Jailer's Inn), and I managed to convince my crew to tour the Heaven Hill facility. Loved it. We got to taste the EC 18 year and Evan Williams single barrel. Loved 'em both. Didn't buy 'em though. Got the shirt.

In future, I'm thinking of getting my entire wardrobe from Bardstown.

[polyamnesia]

I picked up a bottle of this today. I'm drinking some right now.

The nose is HH all the way. Reminds me of Evan Williams Black, though I haven't had any EVB since before they dropped the 7 year age statement two or three years back.

Both the nose and the taste is less sweet than I remember, though that may just be the power of suggestion. I was kinda expecting it to be a bit less sweet. The nose is better than the taste which is blunted a bit by alcohol, especially on the finish. I do have to say the nose is better than what I remember. Its not bad. I think it would be better at 7 or 8 years. After spending a couple sessions with it, it will go unused for a while but this bottle, like the last one I bought, will eventually get drained.

i agree, totally. i am a BIT disappointed, but then, that's partly my fault for expecting more when i knew there is no way it could be MORE at that price ($16.50 or so). i just left a review on the other, less traveled bourbon site...

i am still hanging on to hope...and will let it sit, air out, see what happens. no, it isn't bad at ALL! but it's not stellar like WT rye which is barely more (depending on where you are) or Weller SR or Antique...

it's too Heaven Hill....thin, vegetal. that's the worst of it. the high proof and rye spice are what save it.