Traveling Diaries: The 6 Best Cocktails to order on a flight

On a long-haul flight, there’s nothing better than a little cocktail.

When you’re in the air, however, not all cocktails are created equal. Flight attendants are not only limited in time, space, and sometimes even booze, but your own taste buds may interfere with that delicious and enjoyable in-flight beverage.

You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered why certain drinks taste better at the alcohol store — or worse — on the flight. When you’re in the air, your taste buds react differently to food and drink. All you need to know is what to order.

In general, flying reduces our sensory perception through a combination of factors. The dry air, cabin pressure, or even airplane noise can make drinking boring or unpleasant.

These factors, combined with a completely new environment and exhaustion from travel, can impair our ability to taste and enjoy food.

Consider the ingredients when making your cocktail selection. Choose one with a stronger flavor profile, such as citrus, ginger, or tomato. If you want to drink a cocktail on a plane, these are all excellent choices.

On flights, a bloody Mary, gin and tonic, Moscow mule, or mimosa are all safe bets. If you don’t like spirits, a glass of wine can be refreshing.
These are some of the most popular cocktails among travelers.

Bloody Mary

Flavor: tomato, celery salt, and spice
It’s easy to see why a Bloody Mary is a popular flight drink. This brunch staple is a favorite of frequent flyers. All you need for this cocktail is a cup filled with ice, vodka, and tomato juice. Snatch a packet of pepper and/or hot sauce from an airport eatery and add the packets to your drink after takeoff. Even if you don’t like this drink on the ground, you’ll be pleased to know that the dry air and airplane pressure can actually make it taste sweeter — making it ideal for drinking in-flight. This is a fantastic drink to order on a plane. Acidic and balanced, with savory undertones.

Moscow mule

Flavor: bubbly, sharp ginger, citrus
This cocktail is actually one of my favorite in-flight drinks. The flavors can be strong and refreshing, and the ginger helps nervous fliers with stomach upset. The strong ginger beer and lime combination make this cocktail a nice sipping drink, so you won’t get too tipsy.

Note:
Standard – Every beverage cart has vodka; every beverage cart has a ginger ale, and most airlines stock little lime triangles to garnish their sparkling water or vodka sodas.

Gin and tonic

Flavor: mostly bitter (depending on the gin), citrus, bubbly
If Moscow mules aren’t your thing, a simple gin and tonic are not only easy for a flight attendant to serve, but it’s also a cool and relaxing cocktail for those looking for something a little more subtle. This classic summer cocktail is perfect for drinking in the air at any time of year. Simply request complimentary tonic water and pour it over ice with some gin. Of course, “subtle” on a plane risks becoming flavorless. A lime garnish might be a nice touch to help increase flavor.
Is there really any other option?

Mimosa

Flavor: citrus, bubbly, sometimes sweet

The brunch staple tastes just as good from above. Simply combine your desired quantity of champagne and orange juice for a cheerful pick-me-up. Sweet flavors can become dull in flight, so if the Champagne, prosecco, or brut is combined with extra-sweet orange juice but know the difference between Champagne and prosecco before it, this may not be a good choice. However, if your flight serves mimosas with a nice, dry sparkling wine and tart juice, it could be an excellent morning drink.

Note:
Tart, sour, or acidic flavors, like the bloody Mary, will taste sweeter in the air.

Rum and Coke

Flavor: sweet cola, bitter bite of rum
If your favorite soft drink is an ice-cold can of Coke, you’ll likely enjoy this adult version. Sweet sodas can taste different in the air; can be a “bitter bite” of rum can make for a good combination.

Adding a twist of lime to your rum and coke (also known as a Cuba Libre) can enhance the flavor, similar to gin and tonic. Just don’t order rum and Diet Coke, because diet drinks are notoriously fizzy on flights.

Scotch and soda

Flavor: bubbly, smooth, smokey
This drink’s smokiness and bitterness may taste just as good in the air as it does on the ground, making it a good bet for Scotch drinkers. Furthermore, if you’re a nervous flyer or need some effervescence to calm your nerves, the bubbly soda is there to help. This drink is also suitable for those who do not want too much acidity or sweetness.

There are a variety of other drinks available in the sky, but many are variations on the cocktails listed above, such as a bloody maria or a gin rickey, or contain traces that may not be easily accessible in-flight.

No kit? Not a problem.
When you put your mind to it, there’s a lot more you can do with basic spirits and mixers provided on board a flight if you know what to ask for.

Let’s begin with the basics. A perfectly drinkable Highball could be made by blending Scotch and soda water, garnished with a slice of lemon, and served long over ice. For a Presbyterian, replace the soda water with ginger ale and garnish with lime.

Feeling a little more daring? Over ice, combine bourbon, a sachet of sugar, and the juice of two lemon segments to make a Whiskey Sour. Scotch can also be used to make a Scotch Sour.

If you add soda water to this cocktail and serve it in a slightly taller vessel, you’ll get a John Collins, which is a cousin to the more famous, gin-based Tom Collins.

This last one is a bit of a wild card, but it is entirely possible.

Dehydration can be a problem on flights due to the dry, circulated air, especially if you’re drinking alcohol so you should know ways to stay hydrated. Remember to order a bottle of water with your cocktail so you arrive healthily and refreshed.