In recent years, bottled ready-to-drink cocktails have transformed how we enjoy our favorite beverages. Seamlessly merging convenience with quality, it feels like the golden era is here. Once relegated to standard mixers or overly sweet concoctions, the category has grown dramatically in recent years, with a diverse array of premium offerings crafted by skilled mixologists. The surge in quality and variety is a welcome surprise. As more brands enter the market with new recipes and high-quality ingredients, the possibilities for enjoying a well-crafted but ready-made cocktail at home are more enticing than ever.

Deko Cocktails is another brand founded by industry veterans that entered the space to elevate these offerings. The folks at Deko say that each of their cocktails contains hand-selected ingredients that are natural and/or organic. 

Each bottle comes in 375 mL and pours four servings. They do not need to be refrigerated and will last up to 30 days after opening. Deko crafts three different cocktails, a version of the popular Firefly cocktail, a Bee’s Knees, and a Gold Rush. They have a beautifully designed gift box that includes all three of their full 375 ml bottled cocktails, a cocktail spoon, and dried citrus garnishes. The packaging is stunning with an art déco theme and beautifully designed labels on each bottle, making them an attractive addition to a home bar cart.

My exploration of Deko’s ready-to-drink cocktails has been a delightful revelation. As a mixologist, I was pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of the ingredients and the craftsmanship that went into each cocktail. The balanced flavors showcase the brand’s commitment to authenticity and elevate the home drinking experience. Thoughts on the complete line follow.

Deko Cocktails Bee’s Knees – This first cocktail is a twist on the classic Prohibition-era Bee’s Knees. The classic recipe includes gin, honey, and lemon. Deko’s mixologists elevated this cocktail by adding gin and juniper oil, organic wildflower honey syrup, clarified lemon juice, and organic yuzu and Meyer lemon zest. The aromas are pleasing and smell like authentic and real ingredients — fresh juices melded with botanical notes. The flavors are consistent with the aroma, featuring fresh lemon, lightly sweet honey, and a balanced finish of herbaceous gin notes. This cocktail is as good as any quality bar would make. Pour it into a mixing glass with ice, stir, and strain into a cocktail glass. If you want to skip those steps, just pour the cocktail over ice. 34 proof. A-

Deko Cocktails Gold Rush – Next up is the Gold Rush cocktail, a modern classic bourbon cocktail made with honey and lemon, similar to a Bee’s Knees but with bourbon as the base. It’s made with a straight bourbon that Deko shares is from one of the most prominent distilleries in the U.S. It also contains organic wildflower honey and clarified lemon juice. If you’re thinking that this cocktail seems so simple to make, and questioning whether it’s worth it to purchase a ready-to drink bottle of it, I can only share that cocktails which have builds like the Gold Rush or the Old Fashioned can be challenging to make. It takes precise measuring of high quality ingredients to nail a cocktail like this, as cocktails with few components have nowhere to hide mistakes. Too much honey and the cocktail is too sweet, subpar bourbon and the flavors may not mesh, too much lemon juice or artificial lemon juice and the cocktail will show the issues. The correct proportions, balanced flavors, and high-quality ingredients are clear in the taste — and Deko nails it here. Like the Bee’s Knees, you can serve this cocktail up after stirring with ice or enjoy it on the rocks. 40 proof. B+

Deko Cocktails Firefly – The last cocktail offered by Deko is a variation on the Firefly cocktail. A clean, light summery cocktail or a brilliant choice for an aperitif, the Firefly is all about fresh flavors which might be challenging to pull off in a ready-to-drink cocktail. Deko makes its Firefly cocktail with hand-macerated cucumber-infused vodka, fresh-squeezed lime juice, elderflower tea and syrup, and a kick of habanero. The elderflower provides a well-balanced floral note. Using the tea along with a syrup is very smart because Elderflower syrup or liqueurs can be a dominant and cloying experience. With the tea’s earthiness and a touch of habanero heat at the back of the throat, the spice level is just right. The flavor of the habanero also blends well with the elderflower tea, complementing each other. The cucumber tastes truly fresh, and the lime adds a nice acidic balance. Real vodka, rather than a neutral grain spirit or malt base, makes this cocktail taste authentic. I found this well-balanced cocktail tasted as if freshly made. Pour this over ice for a refreshing experience. 42 proof. A-

$25 each (375ml) / dekococktails.com

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