Sons & Dotters Bottled Old Fashioned Cocktail Review

 

2025 has been a blistering summer! Some folks find it too hot to drink whiskey (not me), and they will opt for a cocktail instead. I get that.

 

I’m about the least adventurous person as it pertains to cocktails. Yeah, I know, there’s that whole #DrinkCurious thing, and I wholeheartedly believe in it, but I’d rather drink whiskey neat than have it as a mixer. I’ve been known to order them at a bar when either someone’s whiskey selection is lacking, or if not, their prices are ridiculous.

 

Even then, I’m going to order either a Mule, a White Russian, a Colorado Bulldog, or, most of the time, an Old Fashioned. Although I live in Wisconsin, please never serve me one with Brandy.

 

Sons & Dotters came into existence because of the lockdown during the 2020 pandemic. Three brothers, Andy, Ryan, and Brent Dotters, wanted some Old Fashioneds, but the bars were closed. One of the brothers, a former bartender, prepared a large batch and then brought it to another brother’s house. Pretty soon, everyone wanted some, and were requesting it be served at events family and friends would put together. The demand was there; the brothers then formed the business legally.

 

Sons & Dotters offers its wares through its online store, and can ship throughout the United States except to Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, and Utah. It can also be found at various bars and restaurants.

 

One of the things I appreciate about Sons & Dotters is that this is a full-proof cocktail, weighing in at 40% ABV (80°). I’m pretty sure that I’ve never had one proofed this high; as such, I’m admittedly excited about this adventure.

 

The back label proclaims that it should be served over ice, as well as advising that it should be shaken first, since it may contain sediment. I’ll take Sons & Dotters up on that suggestion.

 

Before I get to the tasting notes, I am grateful to Sons & Dotters for providing me with this opportunity (and samples) in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

 

• Spirit Type: Ready to Drink Cocktail
• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Age: NAS
• Ingredients: 94° single barrel high rye Bourbon, demerara sugar syrup, and a blend of aromatic and orange bitters
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $60.00
• Price per 200mL: $15.00

 

Appearance: I used a rocks glass and ice to explore this Old Fashioned. The orange-amber color seemed like what you’d expect from this type of cocktail.

 

Nose: I detected notes of bitters, oranges, cherries, and a hint of ginger spice. Inhaling the air through my lips brought a sensation of bitters and orange zest.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was buttery. The whiskey element was there; I tasted caramel, orange peel, and oak on the front of my palate. The middle included hazelnuts, cocoa, and cinnamon, while the back featured clove, rye spice, and toffee.   

 

Finish: Flavors of orange peel, cinnamon, clove, and rye spice hung in my mouth. I timed the duration at 1:06. 1:06? For an Old Fashioned? For real?

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Depending on what whiskey you use (and its proof), you usually don’t wind up tasting its nuances, such as oak, clove, cocoa, and rye spice. Considering the overall alcohol content of this cocktail, that’s understandable.

 

Did Sons & Dotters taste like a classic Old Fashioned? Yes and no. That’s not a hedge; there are so many different ways to make this cocktail that describing a “classic” one can be challenging, including ordering it sweet, sour, or press. The foundation was there. I could taste what I expected, yet there was also something that made Sons & Dotters unique, and I believe that’s the finish. Again, I attribute that to the higher proof.

 

The Dotters suggest that a 200mL offers three full drinks for $15.00. My gut instinct is that it's very pricey. The average price of an Old Fashioned at a small bar ranges from $6.00 to $10.00; at a higher-end bar, it typically falls between $10.00 and $15.00. At a decent restaurant, you’re talking somewhere between $8.00 and $12.00.

 

If you do the math, even at the bottom of the scale, you’d spend more than that at most drinking establishments for an Old Fashioned with rail whiskey, and your overall alcohol content would be much lower. Using the same math, a 750mL should yield about 11. At $60.00, you’re still coming out far ahead of the game. So, while the $60.00 seems expensive, it isn’t.

 

I enjoyed this version of my preferred cocktail. That finish is still stuck in my mind. What that means is Sons & Dotters lasts longer because I’m able to savor it, rather than simply drinking it. Taking everything into consideration, I’m rating this one a Bottle. Cheers!  

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.