Hochstadter's Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned 750ML

Hochstadter's Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned 750ML is a ready-to-drink coffee-infused rye whiskey cocktail bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Awarded a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this expression marries straight rye whiskey with Intelligentsia Coffee, raw honey, demerara sugar, angostura bitters, and orange peel — an intentionally extra-dry profile that distinguishes it from sweeter bottled cocktails on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: New Jersey, USA  |  Style: Ready-to-Drink Coffee Old Fashioned  |  Producer: Cooper Spirits / Charles Jacquin et Cie

Production & Heritage

Hochstadter's Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned is the creation of Rob Cooper, a third-generation distiller and founder of Cooper Spirits, the company behind the original Slow & Low Rock & Rye. This coffee expression represents the first-ever expansion of the Slow & Low brand and draws its inspiration from Cafe Brulot, the classic New Orleans after-dinner cocktail that layers coffee with citrus and spice. Production takes place at the oldest distillery in the United States, located in New Jersey, where straight rye whiskey is blended with Intelligentsia Coffee, raw honey, demerara sugar, angostura bitters, and orange peel. The result is deliberately restrained in sweetness — the equivalent of roughly one sugar cube per two-ounce serving — keeping the rye's backbone front and center.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted coffee leads immediately, followed by a layer of honey sweetness and a distinct citrus brightness from the orange peel. Underneath, the rye whiskey contributes a subtle grain spice that keeps the nose from reading as purely sweet.

Taste: The entry is smooth and coffee-forward, with a bold roast character that opens into mid-palate layers of raw honey and demerara richness. As it develops, the straight rye whiskey asserts itself with warming spice, while angostura bitters and orange zest add complexity and prevent any one-note sweetness. The overall impression is balanced and surprisingly dry for a flavored bottled cocktail.

Finish: Medium-long and warming, with roasted coffee and faint oak lingering well after the sip. A gentle bitterness from the angostura rounds out the close, leaving a clean, slightly spiced impression.

How to Drink Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned

This bottled cocktail is designed to be served straight from the bottle — pour it over a single large ice cube or serve it chilled and neat. No additional mixing is required, but it also works as a base ingredient in more elaborate drinks. An Espresso Martini riff substituting this for vodka adds rye depth and bitters complexity to the classic template. A Coffee Manhattan built with a splash of sweet vermouth leans into the whiskey's structure while amplifying the coffee notes. For a long drink, a Coffee Old Fashioned Highball topped with cold club soda stretches the flavor into a refreshing, lower-proof serve.

Best For

• Hosting a brunch where guests want something beyond mimosas
• Gifting a coffee-obsessed whiskey drinker who values convenience without compromise
• After-dinner sipping as an alternative to a traditional digestif
• Stocking a home bar for quick, high-quality cocktails with no prep required

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned taste like? It leads with bold roasted coffee supported by raw honey sweetness, demerara richness, and warming rye spice, finishing with a clean, slightly bitter close from angostura bitters and orange peel. The profile is notably drier than most ready-to-drink cocktails, with only the equivalent of one sugar cube per two-ounce pour.

How does Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned compare to the original Slow & Low Rock & Rye? The original Slow & Low Rock & Rye centers on honey, citrus, and rock candy flavors over straight rye whiskey, while the Coffee Old Fashioned shifts the focus to roasted Intelligentsia Coffee with angostura bitters and demerara sugar. Both share a rye whiskey base and the same deliberately restrained sweetness philosophy, but the coffee expression is darker in flavor and inspired by New Orleans' Cafe Brulot tradition.

Is Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned good for sipping neat? Yes — it was formulated as a complete, ready-to-drink cocktail and works well poured neat or over a single large ice cube. No additional ingredients or mixing are necessary.

Where is Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned made? It is produced at the oldest distillery in the United States, located in New Jersey, under Cooper Spirits and Charles Jacquin et Cie Inc. The brand was created in Philadelphia by third-generation distiller Rob Cooper.

What foods pair well with Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned? Dark chocolate desserts complement the roasted coffee notes directly. Pecan pie echoes the demerara and honey sweetness. Smoked brisket or barbecue plays well against the rye spice. A cheese plate featuring aged Gouda highlights the caramel undertones, while beignets nod to the drink's New Orleans Cafe Brulot inspiration.

What sizes does Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned come in? The standard bottle size is 750ml at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Is Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned worth the price? It positions as a premium ready-to-drink bottled cocktail that uses named-source ingredients — Intelligentsia Coffee, straight rye whiskey, and raw honey — rather than artificial flavorings. Its 2022 Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates its quality within the RTD category, and the convenience factor of a fully mixed, properly balanced cocktail adds practical value.

Why Slow & Low Coffee Old Fashioned?

What sets this bottled cocktail apart is its restraint. Where many ready-to-drink products lean on sugar to mask lower-quality spirits, Rob Cooper built this expression around straight rye whiskey and kept the sweetness deliberately minimal. The use of Intelligentsia Coffee — a specialty roaster with serious credentials — signals that the coffee component is treated with the same seriousness as the whiskey. The 2022 Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirms the formula works at a high level, and its roots in the Cafe Brulot tradition give it a genuine narrative beyond marketing. For anyone who wants a properly constructed coffee Old Fashioned without the time, tools, or guesswork, this is one of the few bottled options that delivers the complexity of a made-from-scratch cocktail.