14 Bourbons That Aren't Worth Your Money

Fighting Cock Bourbon

Fighting Cock is a 103-proof bourbon that used to be aged six years, but this was shortened to just three years in 2015. This change hurt the bourbon’s quality, and since then it has struggled to attract serious bourbon drinkers. Known for being young, mild, and one-dimensional, it offers little flavor complexity except for a bitter cacao note on the finish, which is more likely to cause a grimace than enjoyment.

At around $20, this bourbon doesn’t offer much value. One Reddit user summarized it well: “It’s young, not very flavorful, and surprisingly light and evasive. The ‘Kickin’ Chicken’ not only lags behind other sub-$20 bourbons but is miles behind those in the $20-$25 range.” It’s passable with a mixer, but lacks the character to be a good sipper.