I tried all the supermarket strawberry daiquiris – £2.25 winner was a punchy, silky smooth revelation

The Sun

2 days ago

WELCOME to National Daiquiri Day – and why not celebrate by sipping this simple retro cocktail?
Named after the beach in Cuba where it was created, the drink consists of four ingredients: white rum, strawberries, fresh lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup – and served with a generous scoop of crushed ice.
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But you don't have to bother mixing your own, as most supermarkets sell ready-to-go canned or bottled options.
Drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries some out and gives her verdict.
Strawberry Daiquiri
250ml, 8% ABV, £2.50, Marks & Spencer - 3/5
I THINK the M&S range of 'perfectly mixed' tipples really set the standard for canned cocktails at a mid ABV (alcohol by volume) range, and this one is decidedly decent.
A blend of berry flavour and white rum with a squeeze of tangy lime, it's a pre-balanced beverage which will save you the faff of buying all the components to create your own.
Like all daiquiris, it's pretty sweet and gives good strawberry sweetie flavours with very subtle citrus notes.
The booze isn't obvious but it's just about there on the finish.
Very simple, but gluggable and well mixed.
Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri
200ml, 5% ABV, £2.25, Tesco - 5/5
MY experience with the Funkin Nitro range of pre-mixed boozy tipples has not always been positive.
But luckily, this ready-to-drink daiquiri didn't disappoint.
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When it comes to the Cuban cocktail, this one was a revelation.
The 'nitro' is an infusion of nitrogen to make it silky smooth and bar-quality, and this time the addition gives a lovely, authentic creamy texture.
It looks more natural, colour-wise, and has a pleasant fruity smell.
There are a lot of good flavours that taste like actual strawberries and limes.
It feels and tastes punchy, too. It's not the cheapest, but this is an excellent cocktail.
Malibu Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail
250ml, 5% ABV, £2.20, Sainsbury's - 2/5
A DAIQUIRI is a rum-based drink, so it makes sense that big brands have got in on the ready-to-drink action and created their own pre-made cocktails – ensuring their spirit is the core ingredient.
As a Malibu fan, I had high hopes for this tipple.
But sadly, it didn't deliver.
It has less of a lurid pink look than some, though it's slightly spritzy and very sweet and synthetic-tasting.
In fact, you can't really taste the booze at all and the flavours throughout are generic and rather fake.
So not much like a daiquiri at all.
There are better ones out there at a similar price point. Such a shame.
Strawberry Daiquiri
250ml, 5% ABV, £1.95, Morrisons - 1/5
MORRISONS' own version is definitely more of an alcopop than a ready-to-drink cocktail, in my opinion.
If you pour it into a glass, it has a scary fluorescent-pink appearance, plus it's very fizzy and thin, like a carbonated drink.
Flavour-wise, there's a searingly acidic punch of something resembling lime and strawberry but it's achingly synthetic – enough to set your teeth on edge.
The can is pretty enough to look at and it's easy to pack into a picnic for drinking on the go.
Affordable and, I suppose, if you serve it with lots of ice and real fruit it will be drinkable.
Au Vodka Strawberry Daiquiri
200ml, 8% ABV, £3.33, Asda, Morrisons & Tesco - 2/5
THIS gets full marks for its eye-catching retro Seventies-style gold and red can, which would be fab at parties, posh picnics or on your social media feed.
But what's inside it is a bit of a let-down.
A classic cocktail with a twist, this is a daiquiri made using vodka as its base spirit instead of rum, so a good option for those who prefer this spirit.
It's another nifty nitrogen-infused can that promises a creamy texture, but it's not as effective as its rivals.
There's tons of flavour, including a coconut undertone.
But it's still incredibly synthetic and acidic.
Expensive compared to others too – all flash and no smash.
The Distiller Strawberry Daiquiri
250ml, 4% ABV, £1.22, Asda - 3/5
ASDA'S own Distiller range does a great job at offering every ready-to-drink cocktail you could wish for – and some are better than others.
This one's not bad and it's a bargain price at just over a quid.
But I'd also say that it's not their best either.
As a one-off purchase or a cheaper ready-to-drink cocktail, it's well worth a try.
Although it's not as sweet as some others, there's a lot of tooth-strippingly zingy lime alongside the fruit flavour – and it's fizzy.
Served over ice with slices of strawberry, and maybe with a splash of tonic, it's super refreshing.
Great for a few drinks in the garden.
Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri
250ml, 3.4% ABV, £1, Iceland - 4/5
FOR only a quid, this daquiri from Iceland was a total surprise – and in a positive way.
The can is fabulous, with a gorgeous design that looks far pricier than it actually is.
Not only does it look elegant but what's inside is pretty smashing too.
It's probably not the most authentic Cuban daiquiri out there and yes, it's sweet and sticky.
But it delivers what you want and tastes of strawberry and lime with a nice boozy kick.
Compared to many others at this ABV range, it over delivers and will save you money.
Stock up for your summer parties or serve it ice cold. It's a one-quid triumph.
Served Strawberry Daiquiri
125ml, 14.9% ABV, £3.90, Morrisons - 4/5
THIS small, canned sipper sits in a different quality category from most of the others, as it's a proper, bar-style serving.
With three times the boozy bite of the others – a whopping 14.9 per cent – it's creamy, concentrated and sumptuously smooth with a lot more natural flavour.
There's lots of body, a stunning berry-red colour and it contains a much higher quality, proper Caribbean rum.
It's double the price of the others, but worth it if you want to spend a bit more for an authentic beach bar-style glugger.
One to pour into a fancy glass and savour.