Fighting Cock
from Heaven Hill Distillery
Heaven Hill calls Fighting Cock the "Bad Boy of Bourbon." The "bad boy" images gets its roots in its relatively high 51.5% ABV — very near cask strength.
This is designed as a "starter Bourbon" for the younger set, and the advertising campaign has won awards for effectively doing just that.
The nose opens up with a lot of Rye spice. But a dash of water helps the complexity come forward by allowing roasted nuts and caramel notes to come forward.
The palate adds to those dark berries to those elements. The finish is long and consistent with the spices.