Cocktails that Need Ice Only
NIO stands for Needs Ice Only and NIO Cocktails has a range of 23 ready-to-pour cocktails that pour straight into the glass from eco-friendly packaging.
One thing that came out of the pandemic was a boom in creative thinking from people in the hospitality trade. One bar owner I know, when his bar was closed to customers, invested in a van and started doing home meal deliveries around his local villages. He ended up earning more when he was closed than he had when he was open!
Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
There was also an upsurge in ready-to-drink cocktails, in cans and bottles, which people could enjoy at home. Some was pretty bog-standard stuff, like the cheap cans you find in supermarkets, but even they broadened the range of what was available to cocktail lovers.
At the other end of the scale, craft distilleries started bottling their own creative cocktails, and new companies sprang up providing customers with a wide range of classic – and classy – cocktails. One such is NIO Cocktails.
Cocktails that Need Ice Only
One thing that makes NIO Cocktails different is that they bypassed the use of cans and bottles for more eco-friendly packaging. Everything they use can be recycled in most places. The ready-made cocktails come in plastic pouches that are inside attractive card containers that are about the size of a CD case.
The containers show everything you need to know about what’s inside – the specific spirits and other ingredients used, the strength, the number of units in the cocktail, and the fact that there are no preservatives, colourants or flavourings added.
Cocktail Creator
NIO Cocktails also hired a top mixologist to create their cocktails for them. Patrick Pistolesi founded and runs the Drink Kong bar in Rome, which has been rated number 19 in the World’s Top 50 Bars. The cocktails are actually mixed in Italy too.
Margaritas that Need Ice Only
To test the NIO Cocktails out, my wife and I sampled their trio of Margaritas, to see if they compared well to my own home-made cocktails. As we spend half the year in southern Arizona, we make a lot of Margaritas both at home and in our favourite Mexican restaurants.
NIO’s standard Margarita uses Exotico Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Giffard Lime Syrup, Organic Citric Acid, and water. The result is a drink that is a hefty 27.2% ABV (54.4 proof), considerably stronger than the average supermarket can, which is usually more in the 5-10% ABV range.
NIO’s Margarita was strong in the way that I like to make my own Margaritas, which always go down well with friends. The secret is simple – use an extra shot of good quality tequila. It shows, and NIO’s Margarita definitely got the thumbs up from both of us.
Tommy’s Margarita
Tommy’s was a bar in San Francisco where the owners came up with their own variation on a classic Margarita. They used agave syrup instead of Cointreau or triple sec, and the result was so popular that a Tommy’s Margarita has become a classic in its own right. NIO’s version uses Toschi Agave Syrup, and by replacing the Cointreau with the agave syrup, the resulting ABV is a lower 20% (40 proof).
The result was a slightly darker and slightly sweeter drink, but not too sweet. It received another seal of approval from two people who are fussy about their Margaritas.
Mango Margarita
NIO’s third Margarita is a limited edition Mango Margarita, and it’s already sold out so if you want to try it you’ll have to sign up to NIO’s mailing list to hear if they decide to make some more. This version uses the same 100% blue agave tequila but with Bols Mango Liqueur (no artificial flavourings, remember) and a dash of Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur.
We weren’t sure if we would like this one, as the inclusion of mango might be a step too far in the sweetness department. But no. It has more of a fruity sweetness, and the addition of only a tiny amount of Ancho Reyes is the key, balancing out the mango by adding a spicy bite to the drink. Another winner, for sure. This one comes in at 17.4% ABV (34.8 proof)
The NIO Cocktail Range
Nio’s currently has 23 ‘pour over ice’ cocktails in its range, though the number changes as new ones are introduced. They include classics like the Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, Whiskey Sour, Gimlet, and Negroni. There are variations you’re curious to try, like the Tea Sour, which uses Tea Liqueur, or a Garden of Russia, which adds an elderflower twist on a Vodka Sour and uses the excellent Ketel One Vodka.
The cocktails come in boxes of three, six or nine, and you can build your own box, which is great fun. The smallest box has a small delivery charge but the others are free delivery.
As well as their standard range there are also some Limited Edition boxes. These include a Bruichladdich box of four cocktails using Bruichladdich whisky or their Botanist Gin. There are gift boxes, too, like Postcards from Japan, which has four cocktails using different Japanese spirits, or the Gin Cocktail Box, with six Tanqueray Gin cocktails. There’s even an alcohol-free box, so safe to say all the bases are covered.
Buying Cocktails that Need Ice Only
Visit the NIO Cocktails website. In the UK you can also find them on Amazon.
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