A 165-year-old shipwreck has inspired one of America’s oldest distilleries to create a new limited-edition release that pays homage to 475 lost barrels of whiskey.
Miller’s Reserve Honors Chicken Cock Whiskey’s Historic Loss
Chicken Cock Whiskey has announced Miller’s Reserve American Whiskey, a limited-edition blend that commemorates the 1860 sinking of the A.O. Tyler steamboat. The vessel went down carrying 475 uninsured barrels of Chicken Cock founder, James A. Miller’s, whiskey in the Ohio River.
The new release blends four American whiskeys from states bordering the Ohio River: Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Miller’s Reserve debuts at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival with an official launch party on September 6 at the brand’s Bardstown facility, Circa 1856.
“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, which owns the brand.
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The historical incident occurred on January 27, 1860, when the transport steamer A.O. Tyler collided with debris from a previous shipwreck. The steamer sank with all 475 barrels belonging to Chicken Cock founder James A. Miller. The uninsured cargo represented a significant portion of Miller’s whiskey inventory destined for markets along the Mississippi River and the New Orleans port.
Chicken Cock Whiskey Creates Premium Blend for Miller’s Reserve
The commemorative release combines 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, Kentucky.
Miller’s Reserve is bottled at 57.5% ABV (115 proof) and features packaging inspired by Prohibition-era designs. Official tasting notes describe flavors of caramel, fig, toasted oak and a rye-spiced finish.
The limited-edition whiskey will retail for $99.99 and will be available online for a limited time. Grain & Barrel Spirits has not disclosed production numbers for the release.
Chicken Cock Whiskey traces its origins to 1856 in Paris, Kentucky. The brand survived Prohibition and changed ownership multiple times before Grain & Barrel Spirits acquired it in 2011. The company has since focused on premium releases and historical storytelling to differentiate the brand in the competitive American whiskey market.
The Ohio River played a crucial role in 19th-century whiskey distribution, connecting distilleries to markets throughout the Midwest and South. Miller’s Reserve represents an attempt to connect modern consumers with this transportation heritage while creating a premium product for collectors and enthusiasts.
According to a brand press release, Miller’s Reserve “pairs wonderfully with a cigar and is built for every sip to linger,” and is being released just in time for fall.
