Warbringer’s Big Cockerel is an unaged whiskey with the swagger of a heavyweight brawler and the soul of the wild desert. Born from smoke and grit, this fiery spirit refuses to be tamed—too bold for the barrel, too big for the rules. Crafted from a blend of smoked and roasted corn with malted rye, it delivers a creamy, mesquite-driven punch that honors the rugged history of early California spirits.

Inspired by the fiery tradition of aguardiente—Spanish for “fiery water”—Big Cockerel nods to the local distilling culture that once thrived in the fields and kitchens of Alta California. While traditionally made from distilled grapes, aguardiente became a catch-all for homemade spirits born of necessity and ingenuity. This whiskey resurrects that ethos, forging a path between the past and present.

Adding to its firepower, Big Cockerel was distilled by master distiller John Campbell. Known for his 15-year tenure as head distiller at Laphroaig, Campbell helped shape one of Islay’s most iconic peated whiskies. After his time in Scotland, he went on to lead the launch of Lochlea, a craft distillery rooted in farmland tradition. In 2024, he brought his decades of expertise to California, stepping in as both Master Distiller and CFO of Sespe Creek Distillery.

The label design is as bold as the spirit inside. Set against a sun-baked palette, the brand’s iconic rooster—the “cock of the walk”—stands atop a pile of bones, a warning to anyone daring enough to cross its path. Illustrated with hand-drawn texture and grit, the design captures the heat, hostility, and untamed beauty of the high desert.

Big Cockerel is unbarreled, unbothered, and undeniably unforgettable. It’s not just a whiskey—it’s a reckoning in a bottle.