This Father's Day Whisky Cocktail box impressed our Whisky expert for under £40

09 June 2023 , 17:00

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The sleek packaging of each cocktail box is a huge selling point for a perfect letterbox gift

With Father’s Day on the horizon, gifts of wine, beer or spirits are on many people’s gift shopping lists - but now you can add another drink based idea - pre-mixed cocktails.

While there’s been a boom in similar products in recent years, I wondered if this would really be an option for anyone who is serious about their drink, which is why I was intrigued to get my hands on this new special pack of six whiskey-based cocktails from NIO.

I tend to associate pre-mixed cocktails with those coke-and-whisky concoctions you can find in train stations - or the cans of G&T, margaritas and pina coladas that appeal more to festival-goers than connoisseurs.

I’m also a bit of a snob about whisky, and flatter myself that I know my Old Fashioneds from my Godfathers.

So, what did I make of NIO’s Father’s Day themed box of whiskey-based cocktails, available for £39?

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The first thing that sticks out about NIO is the super-slim, letterbox-friendly packaging that somehow smuggles in six 100ml portions of three whiskey-based cocktails, two of each.

I’m immediately encouraged that their base whisky is the brilliant Bulleit Bourbon, a staple for mixologists across the globe, with its hints of honey and oakiness making it a great base for all manner of cocktails.

The three styles of cocktail in the box are each an old favourite - there’s a Manhattan, a whiskey sour, and that ubiquitous Old Fashioned. I might have wished for a wild card amongst these slightly predictable offerings (a Sazerac perhaps?), but on tasting each I really appreciated the selection.

What Whisky lover doesn't love an Old Fashioned?

First, the Old Fashioned. This is a deceptively hard cocktail to get right. After all, it’s only a whisky, a little sugar syrup and a smidge of bitters, served with a scrape of orange peel but even the best mixoligists can struggle to get it on point. I’ve lost count of the numbers of Old Fashions I’ve sent back, even in some proper posh bars, so was amazed that what came out of NIO’s quirky square packet was a smooth, well balanced not-too-sweet, not-too-bitter Old Fashioned that holds its own against some of the best. Poured over a large ice cube in a tumbler and given a little stir, I enjoyed a bit of Mad Men sophistication in my own living room!

The Whiskey Sour can be even harder to get right, with its citrus kick - and it’s not a cocktail I often order for that reason. But again, this hit the spot straight away - a refreshing livener if ever there was one.

The classic Manhattan mix is a 'satisfying balance of flavours'

The Manhattan is an after dinner tipple, and a more sophisticated proposition than its two companions in this NIO box. To enjoy it fully, you need one of those tall martini-style glasses and a swirl of orange peel, but that will amount to nothing if the cocktail isn’t mixed to perfection, balancing the herby tones of the vermouth and bitters against the relative sweetness of the bourbon. The first sip gives you a mouthful of herbs, quickly followed by a bitterness that gives way to a brief burn from the whisky before everything comes together in a very satisfying balance of flavours that lasts for a surprisingly long time on the palate. This is a brilliant mix, and on looking at the ingredients I can see why - the Vermouth used was Cocchi, the very well-regarded Italian tipple from Piedmont. I think it’s a great sign that NIO clearly put a lot of effort into sourcing such good ingredients for their creations.

Verdict

Quality: These are serious cocktails that demand to be savoured - not necked. Great ingredients are combined with care to deliver the layers of flavours that cocktail fans look for. 5/5

Value: Working out at £6.66 per pour, these aren’t cheap, so if you’re looking for party fuel, you need to go elsewhere. But for the quality I give this top marks. 5/5

Alternatives:

Tails Whiskey Sour (14.9% ABV, 50cl) At £12.99 for 50cl from , this is less than half the price of the equivalent volume of NIO’s offerings, so if you know you like this cocktail this could be an option.

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Tayer Cedarwood Old Fashioned (30cl, 31.5%), from For a treat at the other end of the price spectrum, try this artisanal concoction that promises that the cedar undertones will transform your Old Fashioned!

Pick up the NIO’s Father’s Day themed box of whiskey-based cocktails here for £39.

Marc Reeves