Next Century Spirits in Zebulon, North Carolina has announced the acquisition of certain brand assets from Grain & Barrel Spirits, including Chicken Cock Whiskey, a heritage brand dating back to 1856. This brand acquisition gives Next Century Spirits its first presence in Kentucky and a premium anchor for its American whiskey portfolio.
“Grain & Barrel built something real here with the Chicken Cock Whiskey brand: exceptional quality, deep history, and a relatable story,” said Anthony Moniello, CEO of Next Century Spirits. “Alongside Blue Chair Bay Rum, Nue Vodka, recently launched Pocho Fino Tequila, and the rest of our portfolio, it strengthens what we’re building at Next Century Spirits.”
Acquisition Includes Chicken Cock Whiskey’s Brand Homes in Bardstown and Louisville, Kentucky
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The acquired assets also include Circa 1856 tasting-room destinations in Bardstown and Louisville. Chicken Cock’s Kentucky home is in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World and sits right on the town square, just feet away from the historic Old Talbot Tavern. This prime location offers tastings, cocktails, retail, and brand experiences and is within a few miles of the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barton 1792 Distillery, Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, Preservation Distillery, and Willett Distillery. You can see all Bardstown distillery experiences here.
The Louisville location features a sipping room and speakeasy in the city’s hip NuLu neighborhood. The NuLu location is within walking distance of Whistle Pig Whiskey Distillery, Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Co., Rabbit Hole Distillery, and Whiskey Thief Distilling Company. With more than a dozen other Kentucky Bourbon Trail stops within a few miles. You can see all Louisville distillery experiences here.
“We’re betting on a brand that stands out in a category where distinctive, authentic stories are winning,” Moniello added. “Together, the Circa 1856 locations give us a physical home in Kentucky and a direct way to introduce more drinkers to the brand’s history and taste.”
“We’re excited to welcome these respected brands to Next Century Spirits and to have Damon DeSantis and Matti Anttila join our board,” said Matthew Bronfman, Chairman of the Next Century Spiritsboard. “Their experience and perspective will be valuable as we continue to grow the company and strengthen our portfolio.”
Grain & Barrel Founder and CEO Matti Anttila will join the board of Next Century Spirits, allowing him to continue guiding Chicken Cock’s growth. “We’ve spent the last decade reviving the Chicken Cock brand and want to see it reach its full potential,” said Anttila. “We believe Next Century Spirits is the right partner to take it even further, returning the ‘Famous Old Brand’ to its legacy position atop the U.S. whiskey market.”
Damon DeSantis, a director of Celsius Holdings and INBP and former CEO of Rexall Sundown, will also join the board of Next Century Spirits, bringing extensive experience as an investor and director across multiple industries. “This is a company that’s making smart bets. I’m glad to be part of what’s next,” said DeSantis.
What Brands Does Next Century Spirits Now Own
The new acquisition expands Next Century Spirits portfolio that now includes vodka, rum, tequila, RTD Caddy Cocktails, gin, whiskey, American single malt whiskey, and Kentucky bourbon whiskey.
Grain & Barrel Brand Portfolio
- Chicken Cock Whiskey
- Dixie Southern Vodka
- Elvis Whiskey
- E.G. Booz
Next Century Spirits Brands
- Blue Chair Bay Rum
- Nue Vodka
- Pocho Fino Tequila
- Bear Fight American Whiskey
- Caddy Cocktails
- Numbskull Whiskey
- Creek Water American Whiskey
- Calamity Gin
- Henderson Whiskey.
What Did Next Century Spirts Pay for Grain & Barrel Brands?
As is often the case, the sale price of Grain & Barrel Spirits to Next Century Spirits was not disclosed. STS Capital Partners, a global mergers and acquisitions firm specializing in sell-side advisories, helped with the acquisition. STS Capital Partners led this deal, with Partner and Managing Director Smoke Wallin navigating complex negotiations.
Founded in 1856 by James A. Miller in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock Whiskey has a legacy rooted in one of the earliest commercial bourbon operations in the Kentucky. What began with Miller’s first venture—J.A. Miller’s Old Bourbon in the late 1830s—grew into a nationally recognized whiskey that became the first from Bourbon County to ship internationally. Over the decades, Chicken Cock Whiskey gained prominence in Old West saloons, Gilded Age social clubs, and Harlem’s famed Cotton Club during Prohibition.
In 2012, Matti Anttila, CEO of Grain & Barrel Spirits, revived the historic brand, restoring its reputation for quality and authenticity. Today, Chicken Cock Whiskey has re-established its authority in American whiskey, celebrated for its award-winning Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye, as well as a roster of highly sought-after limited releases.
In 2024, Chicken Cock Whiskey opened its first brand home, Circa 1856 Bardstown, an immersive visitor experience housed in one of the oldest residences in Bardstown. Building on that momentum, the brand expanded its presence in 2025 with the opening of Circa 1856 Louisville—a tasting room and speakeasy in Louisville — further deepening its connection to Kentucky’s whiskey heritage and offering fans a second destination to explore the world of Chicken Cock Whiskey.
Next Century Spirits – NCS is a full-service distilled spirits and marketing company specializing in the development of spirits for its owned brands, private-label clients, and bulk supply. The NCS portfolio includes Nue Vodka, Blue Chair Bay Rum, Pocho Fino Tequila, Bear Fight Whiskey, Numbskull—a cool mint and chocolate-flavored whiskey—Creek Water American Whiskey, Caddy Cocktails, Calamity Gin, and Henderson Whiskey. NCS-owned brands have earned more than 35 gold medals in industry competitions, and the company has been named North Carolina Distillery of the Year for three consecutive years by the New York International Spirits Competition.
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