The Spirit That Wouldn't Sink: Chicken Cock Whiskey Announces Miller's Reserve American Whiskey for a Limited-Time Release

An expert blend of four 8–10-year-old American Whiskeys bordering the Ohio River

BARDSTOWN, Ky., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Cock Whiskey, one of America's oldest whiskey brands, is excited to announce its latest limited-edition release, Miller's Reserve American Whiskey. Miller's Reserve reclaims the once-lost barrels of Chicken Cock Whiskey founder James A. Miller, lost in the sinking of the A.O. Tyler in 1860. Expertly blended with four American Whiskeys from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia, bordering the iconic Ohio River. Miller's Reserve will be debuting at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, with the official launch party taking place at Chicken Cock's Brand Home, Circa 1856, on Saturday, September 6th.

"With Miller's Reserve, we're honoring a pivotal moment in Chicken Cock Whiskey's early history by resurrecting the spirit of what was once lost," said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. "This bold, complex blend of aged whiskeys from the Ohio River Valley offers a rare opportunity for whiskey lovers to experience a piece of American whiskey heritage reimagined."

In 1860, James A. Miller's thriving whiskey operation for Chicken Cock Whiskey in Paris, Kentucky, had earned a widespread reputation for exceptional spirits. His barrels traveled across the nation via vital trade routes like the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the bustling port of New Orleans. But on January 27th, disaster struck. A shipment of 475 uninsured barrels aboard the transport steamer A.O. Tyler collided with the wreckage of a previous vessel. The steamer sank, taking every barrel with it, leaving Miller's prized whiskey to saturate the river and seep into the soil of the bordering lands.

Miller's Reserve is a testament to the unsinkable spirit of Chicken Cock Whiskey. The limited-edition release, bottled at 57.5% ABV, includes a blend of a 10-year Double Oak Kentucky Whiskey, 8-year High Rye Bourbon from Indiana, 8-year Wheated Bourbon from West Virginia, and 10-year Wheated Bourbon from Ohio. All four whiskeys were blended in Bardstown, KY, to create the Miller's Reserve final liquid. The bottle is a true collector's item, featuring distinctive, Prohibition-era packaging. Miller's Reserve offers notes of caramel, fig, toasted oak, and a rye-spiced finish. Released just in time for the fall, it pairs wonderfully with a cigar and is built for every sip to linger. 

Miller's Reserve will be available online for a limited time at an SRP of $99.99 (115 Proof, ABV 57.5%). For more information, please visit https://chickencockwhiskey.com/

About Chicken Cock Whiskey
Founded in 1856 by James A. Miller in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock Whiskey has a rich legacy rooted in the success of Miller's earlier venture, J.A. Miller's Old Bourbon, which dates back to the late 1830s. Known for its exceptional quality, Chicken Cock Whiskey quickly gained national recognition and became the first brand from Bourbon County to ship whiskey internationally.

In 2012, Matti Anttila, Grain & Barrel Spirits CEO, revived the historic brand, restoring its reputation for excellence. Today, Chicken Cock Whiskey has become one of the most rapidly growing whiskey brands, celebrated for its award-winning Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye., The brand also offers multiple highly sought-after limited releases, crafted in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company as part of its collaborative distillation program. In 2024, Chicken Cock Whiskey opened its brand home, Circa 1856, offering visitors a multi-faceted immersive experience in one of the oldest historic homes in the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky.

Media Contact:
Eliza Williams Reilly
Colangelo & Partners
[email protected] 

SOURCE Chicken Cock Whiskey