Consistently brilliant cocktails, no bartender required — NIO makes its case to the on-trade for the first time.

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NIO (Needs Ice Only) is exhibiting at NRB for the first time, bringing an on-trade proposition built around exactly what bars, restaurants and venues need most: consistency, quality and speed, without the need for a skilled bartender.

Since launching in 2017, NIO has driven the ready-to-experience cocktail category forward. Its menu of over 25 drinks spans the full range of spirits categories and taste profiles, and every serve is built to the same premium standard. No shaking, no measuring, no wastage, rather rip, pour over ice and ready-to-sip.

That standard keeps winning recognition. NIO’s cocktails recently picked up four Great Taste medals, with judges praising a freshness and balance rarely found in a pre-mixed serve:

“The judges enjoyed the ripe, rounded strawberry aroma and hint of tequila. They praised the freshness of the lime, which is nearly always missing in a pre-mix.” Strawberry Margarita, 2-star medal winner

“A lovely fresh nose that avoids the confected trope that often comes with this style of drink. The flavour is good with a nice amount of vodka, and we like how the lime rounds the drink off without it being cloying. A very well-made passion fruit martini.” Passion Fruit Martini, 1-star medal winner

“A crystal clear margarita with notes of fresh lime and tequila on the nose. The palate is well balanced with a good-quality tequila and a good amount of authentic lime. The sweet and sour finish is very enjoyable. A delicate and refined example of the classic.” Margarita, 1-star medal winner

For operators, that consistency is the whole point. A NIO serve tastes the same at the first pour of the night as the last, whoever’s behind the bar. There’s no variance in measures, no ice dilution to manage, and no specialist training to budget for — just NIO, a tumbler and ice.

Richard Sager, who launched NIO in the UK in 2019 and recently led a consortium to acquire the company, said: “We’re grateful to the Great Taste judges for their recognition of the quality of our cocktails, and the effort we go to deliver balance across all the complex tasting notes that make up a great cocktail. The journey to constantly improve never stops, and we’re incredibly excited about how our menu is developing, if our blind taste tests are anything to go by.”

NIO welcomes NRB visitors to its stand to explore the menu, taste the cocktails, and judge the quality and value for themselves.

“We offer the promise of consistently brilliant serves, no matter the cocktail, who’s pouring it, or where,” Sager added. “Put simply, our promise is convenience without compromise.”

Visit NIO at Stand N354 at NRB. For trade enquiries, visit www.niococktails.co.uk or contact NIO at [email protected]

ENDS

About NIO Cocktails
NIO (Needs Ice Only) launched in 2017 and has led the premium ready-to-experience cocktail category ever since. Its menu of over 25 cocktails spans every major spirits category, each one designed to deliver bar-quality balance and flavour with nothing more than a fridge and ice. NIO’s cocktails have won multiple industry awards, including four medals at the 2026 Great Taste Awards. The company launched in the UK in 2019 under Richard Sager, who recently led a consortium to acquire NIO outright.