It’s right about now that many of us were supposed to be in the French countryside sipping a refreshing Boulevardier while grazing on a cheese board, or enjoying a Margarita poolside on a hot summer’s day in Mexico. Unfortunately with millions of us living under a strict stay-at-home order, travel plans remain up in the air and our wanderlust remains ever-present.
NIO Cocktails has compiled an around-the-world cocktail list that will transport you in spirit (literally!) to your favourite faraway watering-hole, that will resuscitate memories of a bygone trip or help create new ones and that will ultimately leave you thirsty for more. To further elevate the occasion, you can pair your cocktail with an interactive experience to make the most of your virtual holiday.
Keep reading to find where you can go by mixing up a little vacation in a glass with NIO Cocktails, all in the comfort of your own home.
Cocktail: Manhattan
Origin: Manhattan, New York, USA
On The Menu
With current travel restrictions to the Big Apple in a bid to flatten the coronavirus curve, it’s nearly impossible to raise a glass in the city that never sleeps. Luckily, there’s still plenty of attractions to be enjoyed online so why not take a virtual stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge whilst enjoying a Manhattan cocktail.
Best Served with a virtual tour of The Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Bridge
Cocktail: Cosmopolitan
Origin: South Beach, Miami, USA
On The Menu
Launching onto the scene in the late ’80s and solidifying its status throughout the ’90s, the vodka, triple sec and cranberry concoction was reportedly the signature drink of Cheryl Cook, the so-called Martini Queen of South Beach, Miami. Keeping its tropical origins in mind, we suggest enjoying a Cosmopolitan on the vibrant Miami Beach - or as close to it as you can get!
Best Served with a virtual tour of Miami Beach or the Biltmore Hotel 360 Virtual Experience
Cocktail: Old Fashioned
Origin: Kentucky, USA
On The Menu
Made with bourbon whiskey, lightly sweetened with sugar, aromatised with bitters and garnished with orange zest, the Old Fashioned is the most classic of cocktails. The origins of this cocktail date so far back that it’s hard to trust anyone who says they created it however it’s widely believed Kentucky was the birthplace of this drink. Bourbon is an American whiskey distilled mostly of corn so why not see where it all began? Buffalo Trace Distillery, along the famous Whisky Trails, is offering a virtual tour of its 400-acre grounds
Best Served with a virtual tour of the Buffalo Trace Distillery along the Whiskey Trails
Cocktail: Margarita
Origin: Mexico
On The Menu
Chances are if Mexico was on your bucket list you’ll be searching for any way to bring the rich culture to your living room. Enter the Margarita! By mixing Tequila, Triple Sec and Lime Juice your taste buds will thank you for the flavor explosion in one of Mexico’s most iconic drinks. Pair it with a Mexican feast and a virtual tour of the mystifying Maya Pyramids and you’ll be left feeling satisfied to the fullest.
NIO’s twist on the classic Margarita transports you, surprisingly, to the city of San Francisco where one of the world’s most famous tequila bars lives. Renowned spirits expert, Julio Bermejo, created ‘Tommy’s Margarita’ by replacing triple sec with sweet agave syrup - the perfect twist on the timeless drink.
Best Served with a virtual tour of the ancient Maya Pyramids or Palaciode Bellas Artes
Cocktail: Daiquiri
Origin: Daiquiri, Cuba
On The Menu
The classic combination of white rum, citrus and sugar have made the Daiquiri a favourite of cocktail-lovers around the world. Pair with a Cuban club sandwich, a cigar and virtual sunset over Havana Harbour and you’ll be instantly transported to the island paradise.
Best Served with a virtual tour of the View from Across Havana Harbour or Trio Alpha Perform at Plaza de Armas
Cocktail: Whiskey Sour
Origin: Iquique, Peru
On The Menu
Many give the credit for this whiskey-based sour cocktail to Englishman Elliott Stubb who ended up in Iquique, then a part of Peru during the Spanish-American War. It’s this little known fact that the drink originated from South America which means if your holiday plans to South America have been put on hold, it might be time to pour yourself a Whiskey Sour and jump online to survey the breathtaking Machu Picchu and help ease those holiday blues!
Best Served with a virtual tour of Machu Picchu
Cocktail: Milano Torino
Origin: Milan, Italy
On The Menu
The Mi-To is a classic mix of Campari and vermouth, garnished with orange peel, that went on to inspire a new generation of cocktails such as the Americano and Negroni. Grab a Mi-To, tour around the Duomo di Milano and if you squeeze your eyes shut tight enough, you just might be able to picture yourself basking under the Italian sun
Best Served with a virtual tour of Duomo di Milano or the Sforza Castle
Cocktail: Negroni
Origin: Florence, Italy
On The Menu
The inspiration for the Negroni came from the Americano, which is composed of Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda. In 1919, however, a French general named Count Camillo thought that the drink wasn’t strong enough, and asked his bartender to add a touch of gin rather than soda to his mix and the ‘American aperitif Count Negroni-style’ was born. One of the all-time classic aperitivos, the Negroni is best served with a virtual stroll through the Palazzo Vecchio.
Best Served with a virtual tour of Palazzo Vecchio or Basilica of Santa Croce
Cocktail: Boulevardier
Location: Paris, France
On The Menu
Is there anything more appealing than a European summer? The Boulevardier was born at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris and is similar to a Negroni but made from bourbon rather than gin. For the full French experience, pair your cocktail with a cheese board and virtual viewing of the Eiffel Tower and you will be transported to the beautiful city without leaving your home!
Best Served with a virtual tour of Eiffel Tower or Palais Garnier
Cocktail: Gin Proved
Origin: Switzerland, Austria
On The Menu
On a cold winter’s night in an Alpine chalet, NIO’s Head Bartender Patrick Pistolesi combined rose petals, almonds and orange Curaçao to create a perfectly perfumed signature cocktail for the curious gin lover. The warmth of this drink is beautifully contrasted with a virtual excursion to the summit of Austria’s Jungfraujoch Mountain.
Best Served with a Virtual Excursion to the Summit of Jungfraujoch Mountain or a Virtual Road Trip through Switzerland
Cocktail: Garden of Russia
Origins: St Petersburg, Russia
On The Menu
On a visit to St Petersburg, NIO Cocktails Head Bartender Patrick Pistolesi took a stroll around the stunning Summer Garden. Inspired by the early spring bloom, he sets out to recreate the experience. The result is an unusual, fresh and fragrant take on the Vodka Sour with an elderflower twist. Why not pour yourself a glass and see first-hand what makes St Petersburg so magical?
Best Served with a Birds-eye view of Kremlin or a virtual tour of St Petersburg
Cocktail: Gimlet, Gin Sour & Vodka Sour
Origin: Great Britain
On The Menu
For the ultimate staycation cocktails, the Gimlet, Gin Sour and Vodka Sour are ideal. The sours are thought to have been first served on the high seas by the British Royal Navy. Combining a simple mix of citrus fruits, cordial, sugar, water, and either gin or vodka, the sours were born. A timeless classic best enjoyed with a virtual tour of the Portsmouth Museum to uncover its rich maritime history.
Best Served with a virtual tour of Portsmouth Museum, Stonehenge & Buckingham Palace
Cocktail: Brown Gold
Origin: The Mediterranean
On The Menu
The Brown Gold is an elegant and aromatic evening drink rich with the warmth of vanilla, coffee and bourbon. A signature NIO Cocktail, the company’s Head Bartender Patrick Pistolesi says he was inspired by a Mediterranean sunset when concocting the drink. It makes sense then to kick back with a Brown Gold whilst lapping up the sights of Malta - a Mediterranean paradise that’ll leave you feeling sun-kissed from your living room.
Best Served with a Virtual Tour of Malta
Let us know where you have been on your virtual travels by tagging us on Instagram @niococktailsuk