In a noteworthy achievement for the ready-to-drink cocktail industry, Pasadena-based Knox & Dobson announced it has secured top honors at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The brand’s Improved Whiskey Cocktail was awarded a prestigious Double Gold Medal, while their Old Fashioned Cocktail claimed a Gold Medal in the Ready-to-Drink category.
The competition, established in 2000, is renowned as the oldest and largest of its kind, featuring nearly 5,000 entries this year. Judges, comprising experienced spirits critics, conducted blind tastings to ensure impartiality in their evaluations of the submitted products. Receiving a high-tier medal at SFWSC is considered a testament to exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
Knox & Dobson, a newcomer to the premium bottled cocktail market, has quickly made its mark with a collection designed for easy consumption. The brand’s motto, “Open, Pour, and Enjoy!” encapsulates their approach to making high-quality cocktails accessible to consumers. Each 200-milliliter bottle contains two servings, perfect for sharing.
Rob Levy, Founder and President of Knox & Dobson, collaborated with Creative Director Peter Lloyd Jones to develop the product line. Their partnership brings together Levy’s business acumen and Jones’ extensive bartending experience from establishments like The Raymond 1886, Everson Royce Bar, and Proof Media Mix.
“Our mission was to create a collection of cocktails that were equal in taste and quality to those freshly crafted by a skilled bartender,” Levy said. “Pete’s experience at 1886 Bar at The Raymond and Everson Royce Bar, combined with his passion and creativity, make him the perfect partner at Knox & Dobson.”
The award-winning Improved Whiskey Cocktail, boasting a 35.42% ABV, combines straight aged rye whiskey with Maraska Maraschino Liqueur and Angostura bitters. This concoction offers a complex flavor profile featuring spices, American oak, citrus, and cherry notes.
Similarly, the Gold Medal-winning Old Fashioned (38% ABV) blends straight aged bourbon with natural cane sugar, orange oil, and Angostura Bitters. The result is a cocktail that balances the richness of aged bourbon with bright citrus and spice flavors.
Knox & Dobson’s product line extends beyond these two offerings, including a gin Martini, Rye Manhattan, and Moscow Mule. Each cocktail is crafted using premium ingredients, the brand said. All cocktails are best served chilled or over ice.
The brand’s name draws inspiration from Levy’s childhood in Skokie, Illinois, where he grew up near the intersection of Knox Avenue and Dobson Street. The brand said Levy’s adolescence in the ’60s and ’70s was spent hanging out “on the corner” with neighborhood kids who remain lifelong friends.
Knox & Dobson cocktails are available for nationwide delivery and can be purchased at various locations across the country. In Pasadena alone, the brand has secured placement in at least ten establishments, including Everson Royce Wine and Spirits, Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, Total Wine & More, The Pasadena Hotel & Pool, Gerlach’s, Showcase Liquor, Brookside Golf Course, Bristol Farms, and Mission Wine & Spirits.
For more information, visit https://www.knoxanddobson.com/.
