On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned 750ML

On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned 750ML is a premium ready-to-drink cocktail made with Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon, bottled at 35% ABV. Scoring 94 points from Tastings.com in January 2022 and earning a Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute, this RTD Old Fashioned stands out in a crowded category by anchoring its recipe around a full-bodied, age-stated bourbon rather than generic blended whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 35% (70 proof)  |  Origin: United States  |  Style: Ready-to-Drink Cocktail  |  Base Spirit: Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon

Production & Heritage

On The Rocks partners directly with recognized spirit brands to produce bottled cocktails that replicate bar-quality recipes. The Old Fashioned expression builds on Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon—distilled at Jim Beam's Clermont, Kentucky facility using a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, then aged in new charred white American oak barrels. To that bourbon base, On The Rocks adds bitters, cane sugar, orange, cherry, and lemon zest, resulting in a cocktail that preserves the bold character Knob Creek is known for rather than burying it under sweeteners. The use of a specific, named premium bourbon as the backbone is the key differentiator from most RTD competitors that rely on unnamed or house-distilled whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm bourbon leads immediately, carrying toasted oak and caramel. Behind it, subtle citrus zest and a gentle spice from the rye component surface as the glass opens up.

Taste: The entry is rich and slightly sweet, with caramel and vanilla arriving first from the bourbon's oak aging. Mid-palate shifts toward orange zest and bitters complexity, creating the classic push-pull between sweetness and aromatic bitterness that defines a well-made Old Fashioned. The Knob Creek base gives the cocktail noticeable body and warmth uncommon in ready-to-drink offerings.

Finish: Long and rich, with lingering oak, a hint of residual sweetness, and a dry bitters edge. Cherry and lemon zest appear faintly on the close, adding subtle depth without cloying sweetness.

How to Drink the On The Rocks Old Fashioned

This cocktail is ready to pour straight from the bottle—serve it over a single large ice cube or a few rocks to bring down the temperature and gently open up the citrus and bitters notes. A fresh orange peel expressed over the glass enhances the existing citrus character. While this is a finished cocktail, it also serves as a versatile base: top with a splash of club soda for a lighter, effervescent take; stir in a barspoon of cherry liqueur for a deeper, fruit-forward riff on the classic; or add a few dashes of walnut bitters to push the oak and spice notes further into autumn territory.

Best For

• Hosting a dinner party where you want a consistent, quality cocktail without a dedicated bartender
• Taking to outdoor gatherings, barbecues, or tailgates where glassware and bar tools aren't practical
• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who appreciates Knob Creek's profile
• Stocking a home bar with a reliable, ready-to-pour option for weeknight unwinding

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the On The Rocks Old Fashioned taste like? It delivers a caramel-and-vanilla-forward bourbon flavor balanced by orange zest, aromatic bitters, and a touch of cane sugar sweetness, finishing with toasted oak and a mild spice from the rye in Knob Creek's mashbill.

How does the On The Rocks Old Fashioned compare to Hochstadter's Slow & Low Rock and Rye? The On The Rocks version uses Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon as its named base spirit and hews closely to a traditional Old Fashioned recipe with bitters, cane sugar, and citrus zest. Hochstadter's Slow & Low takes a different approach, blending straight rye whiskey with honey and rock candy for a sweeter, rye-spice-driven profile rooted in the historic rock and rye tradition.

Is the On The Rocks Old Fashioned good for sipping straight? Yes—at 35% ABV it carries enough proof to deliver genuine bourbon character, and the recipe is balanced enough to drink neat or over ice without any additional preparation.

Where is the On The Rocks Old Fashioned made? On The Rocks produces its cocktails in the United States, with operations based in Texas. The Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon used in the recipe is distilled at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with the On The Rocks Old Fashioned? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the bourbon's oak and caramel depth. Dark chocolate desserts echo the bitters' complexity. Sharp aged cheddar mirrors the drink's balance of sweet and savory. Pecan pie aligns with the vanilla and toasted-nut notes. Grilled stone fruits like peaches bridge the cocktail's citrus and sweetness.

What sizes does the On The Rocks Old Fashioned come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, which yields roughly five to six generous pours depending on serving size. A 375ml half-bottle is also commonly available.

Is the On The Rocks Old Fashioned worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium ready-to-drink cocktail, and the inclusion of Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon—a bourbon that retails on its own at a meaningful price point—gives it stronger value credentials than most RTD competitors built on unnamed spirits.

Why the On The Rocks Old Fashioned?

The fundamental advantage here is transparency: the label names Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon as the base, and that bourbon's 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley mashbill brings a depth and spice that generic RTD whiskey cocktails simply cannot match. A 94-point score from Tastings.com and a Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute back that up with third-party validation. The recipe keeps things honest—bourbon, bitters, cane sugar, and real citrus zest—without artificial flavoring shortcuts. For anyone who appreciates a properly made Old Fashioned but wants the convenience of pouring one from a bottle, this expression delivers on both fronts.