Knox & Dobson launches bartender-quality ready-to-drink cocktails created by The Raymond 1886’s Peter Lloyd Jones. Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan & more.
When a premium ready-to-drink cocktail brand launches with formulations created by Peter Lloyd Jones—the legendary bartender behind The Raymond 1886 and Everson Royce Bar—serious cocktail enthusiasts should pay attention. Knox & Dobson has introduced a meticulously curated collection of superior bottled cocktails that finally solve the eternal question:
can pre-made cocktails actually match what skilled bartenders craft fresh?
The answer, after tasting their Gin Martini, Classic Old Fashioned, Improved Whiskey Cocktail with Maraschino Liqueur, and Rye Manhattan, is a resounding yes. For upscale audiences from Beverly Hills to West Hollywood to Culver City who love expertly crafted cocktails but don’t always have time or ingredients for home bartending, Knox & Dobson represents something genuinely new: bartender-quality drinks that require nothing more than opening, pouring, and enjoying.
Each 200ml bottle contains two servings made with highest-quality ingredients including hand-selected barrel-aged whiskey, distilled gin, natural cane sugar, and authentic Angostura Bitters—no shortcuts, no compromises.
Founded by President Rob Levy and Creative Director Peter Lloyd Jones with award-winning bottle design, Knox & Dobson brings the craft cocktail bar experience home, to picnics, to travel—anywhere exceptional drinks deserve to be enjoyed.
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The Knox & Dobson Mission: Bartender Quality, Anywhere
Rob Levy and Peter Lloyd Jones didn’t set out to create “pretty good” ready-to-drink cocktails. Their mission was far more ambitious: creating a collection of cocktails equal in taste and quality to those freshly crafted by skilled bartenders—period.
“Our mission was to create a collection of cocktails that were equal in taste and quality to those freshly crafted by a skilled bartender. Peter Lloyd Jones was the best choice, and I can’t imagine working with anyone better,” says Levy. “Pete was Head Barman at 1886 Bar at The Raymond and he was also behind the stick at Everson Royce Bar for several years, so his experience is invaluable, and his passion and creativity make him the perfect partner at Knox & Dobson.”
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That partnership matters enormously. The Raymond 1886 isn’t just any bar—it’s one of Pasadena’s most respected craft cocktail destinations, known for serious technique, historical accuracy, and impeccable execution. Everson Royce Bar built similar reputation for innovative, expertly balanced drinks. Lloyd Jones brings decades of experience understanding flavor profiles, ingredient interactions, and what separates good cocktails from genuinely excellent ones.
This expertise translates directly into Knox & Dobson’s formulations. Lloyd Jones approached each cocktail with the same attention to detail he’d bring to drinks made fresh behind the bar—selecting specific spirits, adjusting ratios through countless iterations, and refusing to compromise quality for convenience or cost.
The result: ready-to-drink cocktails that taste like they were just stirred or shaken by a professional bartender, because they essentially were—just batched with precision and bottled for your convenience.
The Collection: Four Classic Cocktails, Expertly Executed
Knox & Dobson launched with four cornerstone cocktails representing the classics that serious drinkers order repeatedly—drinks where quality differences are immediately apparent and shortcuts are instantly detected.
Gin Martini (34% ABV)
This is a take on the classic combining gin with dry vermouth to create a flavor profile that’s aromatic, slightly earthy, and refreshing to drink. Lloyd Jones recommends serving this cocktail up or over ice, garnished with olives.
For Martini purists who’ve endured countless subpar versions—too sweet, wrong ratios, inferior gin—Knox & Dobson’s approach honors the drink’s elegant simplicity while delivering genuine flavor complexity. The aromatic gin shines while dry vermouth adds subtle botanical depth without overwhelming.
Old Fashioned (38% ABV)
This cocktail consists of straight aged bourbon, natural cane sugar, orange oil, and Angostura Bitters with tastes of aged bourbon, bright citrus flavors, bitters, raw cinnamon, clove, and American oak.
The Old Fashioned has become ubiquitous in craft cocktail culture, which means everyone has opinions about proper execution. Knox & Dobson’s version respects tradition while delivering the balance that makes this drink endlessly sippable—spirit-forward without being harsh, sweetness balanced by bitters, citrus brightness lifting the whole composition.
Improved Whiskey Cocktail (35.42% ABV)
Made with straight aged rye whiskey, Maraschino Liqueur, and Angostura bitters, this features a spiced flavor profile combined with American oak, citrus, along with bright and deep cherry notes. This is a whiskey cocktail meant to be sipped and savored.
The Improved Whiskey Cocktail represents Knox & Dobson’s willingness to go beyond the most obvious classics. This 19th-century drink showcases how Maraschino liqueur—when used properly by someone who understands its function—adds complexity rather than sweetness, creating layers of flavor that reward slow sipping.
Rye Manhattan (36% ABV)
Made with straight aged rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters, the tantalizing pairing of aged whiskey combined with aromatic Italian-style vermouth creates a spice, citrus, and charred oakwood profile that will have anyone asking for another round.
The Manhattan stands alongside the Martini as one of cocktail culture’s most essential drinks—and one where quality is immediately obvious. Knox & Dobson’s use of rye whiskey rather than bourbon gives their Manhattan the spicy backbone that makes this drink sing, while proper vermouth integration ensures the cocktail tastes cohesive rather than like spirits simply mixed together.
According to the Distilled Spirits Council, premium ready-to-drink cocktails represent one of the spirits industry’s fastest-growing categories, driven by consumers seeking convenience without sacrificing quality. Knox & Dobson positions itself at the premium end of this market—not competing with mass-market options, but offering genuine craft cocktail experiences in portable format.
The Story Behind the Name: Hometown Pride and Bringing People Together
Levy’s upbringing in Skokie, Illinois, at Knox Avenue and Dobson Street is where Levy spent most of his adolescence in the ’60s and ’70s hanging out “on the corner” with neighborhood kids who remain lifelong friends.
Knox & Dobson is as much an elevated on-the-go craft beverage experience as it is a distillation of hometown pride and a love of bringing people together. That origin story isn’t just charming branding—it reflects the product’s fundamental purpose: facilitating connection, celebration, and shared experiences without requiring elaborate home bar setups or bartending expertise.
The 200ml bottles containing two servings embody this philosophy perfectly. You’re not buying individual drinks—you’re buying shared experiences. Open a bottle with a friend, pour two glasses, and enjoy expertly crafted cocktails together. Whether at home, picnicking, traveling, or anywhere exceptional drinks belong, Knox & Dobson makes quality cocktails accessible.
For upscale foodies, wine collectors, and cocktail enthusiasts throughout Los Angeles who appreciate both craftsmanship and convenience, this balance hits perfectly. You’re not settling for mediocre pre-made drinks because you’re too lazy to make proper cocktails—you’re choosing professionally formulated, bartender-quality cocktails that happen to be conveniently bottled.
Award-Winning Design Meets Superior Liquid
The award-winning bottle design isn’t superficial aesthetics—it’s part of Knox & Dobson’s comprehensive approach to creating premium experiences. The bottles look beautiful on bar carts, make thoughtful gifts, and communicate immediately that these aren’t mass-market convenience products.
This attention to complete experience—from liquid quality to bottle design to serving suggestions—reflects Lloyd Jones’ bartending background, where presentation, glassware, and ritual contribute as much to enjoyment as the drink itself.
Each Knox & Dobson bottled cocktail is best served chilled or over ice, allowing the spirits and ingredients to express themselves fully without temperature extremes muting flavors. The straightforward serving instructions—chill, open, pour, enjoy—remove barriers while ensuring optimal presentation.
Where to Find Knox & Dobson and What’s Coming Next
Knox & Dobson is available for delivery anywhere nationwide through their website at www.KnoxandDobson.com, ensuring access regardless of local retail availability.
For California residents, the brand has launched at 15 Total Wine & More locations (soon expanding to all 28 California stores), Bristol Farms South Pasadena (expanding to all 14 Bristol Farms stores), and specialty retailers including Bar Keeper Los Angeles, Cypress Liquor Los Angeles, Highland Park Wine, K&L Wine Merchants in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Gerlach’s Pasadena.
Notably, Everson Royce Bar in Pasadena—where Lloyd Jones himself bartended—carries Knox & Dobson, as does The Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. These on-premise locations signal that even establishments known for exceptional fresh cocktails recognize Knox & Dobson’s quality.
For the complete retailer list, visit Knox & Dobson’s “Find a Stockist” page on their website.
And if your go-to cocktail isn’t on the menu yet, don’t worry. The Knox & Dobson bar cart will be rolling this summer with more cocktails on the way and no shortage of inspiration. This commitment to expanding the collection suggests Levy and Lloyd Jones view this as the beginning of a comprehensive bottled cocktail program, not just four products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much alcohol is in Knox & Dobson cocktails and how many servings per bottle?
A: Each 200ml bottle contains two servings. Alcohol content varies by cocktail: Gin Martini (34% ABV), Old Fashioned (38% ABV), Improved Whiskey Cocktail (35.42% ABV), and Rye Manhattan (36% ABV). These are proper cocktail strengths—not watered-down or artificially sweetened versions.
Q: What makes Knox & Dobson different from other ready-to-drink cocktails?
A: Knox & Dobson uses highest-quality ingredients including hand-selected barrel-aged whiskey, distilled gin, natural cane sugar, and authentic Angostura Bitters. Formulations were created by Peter Lloyd Jones, Head Barman at The Raymond 1886 and Everson Royce Bar, ensuring bartender-quality recipes and execution. The mission was creating cocktails equal to those freshly crafted by skilled bartenders—not compromise convenience products.
Q: How should I serve Knox & Dobson cocktails?
A: Each cocktail is best served chilled or over ice. For the Gin Martini, Lloyd Jones recommends serving up or over ice with olive garnish. The other cocktails work beautifully over ice in rocks glasses. The key is proper chilling—these are spirit-forward cocktails that benefit from temperature control bringing out complex flavors.
Q: Where can I buy Knox & Dobson bottled cocktails?
A: Knox & Dobson is available for nationwide delivery at www.KnoxandDobson.com. In California, find them at 15 Total Wine & More locations (expanding to all 28 stores), Bristol Farms South Pasadena (expanding to all 14 stores), Bar Keeper Los Angeles, Highland Park Wine, K&L Wine Merchants, Everson Royce Bar Pasadena, The Ace Hotel Downtown LA, and other specialty retailers. Check their “Find a Stockist” page for complete listings.
Raise Your Glass to Bartender-Quality Convenience
Knox & Dobson represents what premium ready-to-drink cocktails should be: uncompromising quality, expert formulation, and genuine respect for cocktail craft—all in convenient, shareable bottles that go anywhere.
For cocktail enthusiasts, spirits collectors, and upscale audiences throughout Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and beyond who appreciate expertly crafted drinks but don’t always have time or ingredients for full home bartending, Knox & Dobson solves a real problem beautifully. You’re getting Peter Lloyd Jones’ decades of bartending expertise, Rob Levy’s commitment to quality, and award-winning design in every bottle.
Whether you’re hosting at home, bringing drinks to friends, packing for travel, or simply want exceptional cocktails without the effort, Knox & Dobson delivers. Each 200ml bottle contains two servings of bartender-quality cocktails—perfect for sharing, celebrating, and bringing people together over drinks that actually taste as good as those freshly made by professionals.
Visit www.KnoxandDobson.com to order for nationwide delivery, find local California retailers through their stockist page, or follow them on social media for news about upcoming cocktail releases. The bar cart is rolling this summer with more superior bottled cocktails on the way.
Finally, ready-to-drink cocktails worthy of your glass. That’s Knox & Dobson—simply chill, open, pour, and enjoy.
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