Sky-high sips: 13 cocktails to enjoy on your next flight

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Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s no secret that an in-flight cocktail makes flying a little more luxurious. While you could order beer or wine, a cocktail elevates your up-in-the-air experience in a big way. Check your airline’s menu (usually in the seat back pocket in front of you) to see their liquor and mixer offerings and order one of these delicious drinks.

A dark brown cocktail with ice sits surrounded by a whole lime and gold cocktail tools.
Whiskey & Coke. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Whiskey ginger

A gray and white dish towel wraps around a half of a lime, a gold spotted glass, a gold spoon and cocktail jigger and a Seagram's Ginger Ale.
Whiskey Ginger. Photo credit: Feast + West.

The Whiskey Ginger Cocktail, made with just bourbon and ginger ale, is an excellent choice for drinking on an airplane. An upgrade from regular ginger ale, it offers a balanced mix of sweetness, tartness, and spiciness, providing a delightful and comforting experience.
Get the Recipe: Whiskey Ginger

Cape Codder

A red cape cod cocktail with ice sits in a gold rimmed glass. Another glass with the same crimson cocktail sits behind on a cutting board. Whole cranberries and whole limes are scattered around both drinks.
Cape Codder. Photo credit: Feast + West.

The Cape Codder cocktail, also known as the Vodka Cranberry, is a fruity and refreshing option suitable for airplane travel. Its simplicity and crowd-pleasing nature make it an ideal choice for any time of year.
Get the Recipe: Cape Codder

Rum & Coke

limes and cocktails on a white background.
Rum and Coke. Photo credit: Feast + West.

The two-ingredient Rum & Coke is a popular choice for air travel due to its simplicity and versatility. Ask your flight attendant for white rum or spiced rum plus your favorite cola to make an enjoyable sipper for your flight.
Get the Recipe: Rum & Coke

Bloody Mary

a closeup of a garnish on a Bloody Mary made with homemade Bloody Mary mix
Classic Bloody Mary. Photo credit: Feast + West.

When it comes to brunch, the Bloody Mary stands as a timeless choice, but it’s a great option for morning airplane journeys as well. Most airlines offer Bloody Mary mix as an option that you can order along with vodka to make this classic cocktail. It won’t be accompanied by an array of garnishes, but it is a winning option to elevate your mile-high experience even more.
Get the Recipe: Classic Bloody Mary

Gin & tonic

The Gin & Tonic is a well-known and easily enjoyable cocktail that remains a classic choice for air travel. This refreshing beverage is perfectly balanced with just two ingredients, ensuring a pleasant and refreshing flying experience.
Get the Recipe: Gin & tonic

Mimosa

an orange juice mimosa on a mimosa bar with mint and orange wedges.
Mimosa. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Kick off your vacay with a bubbly cocktail! The combination of orange juice and champagne in a Mimosa makes it an ideal brunch cocktail that is equally fitting for airplane travel. The refreshing and bubbly nature of this timeless pairing provides a delightful and sophisticated in-flight cocktail. Try it with other juice offerings on the plane menu, such as apple juice and cranberry juice.
Get the Recipe: Mimosa

Vodka Soda

a vodka soda next to a silver jigger and limes.
Vodka Soda. Photo credit: Feast + West.

The classic and light Vodka Soda cocktail is delicious anytime, but it’s even better when you don’t want to sip a heavy drink on an airplane. Simply ask for vodka and club soda. Switch out the vodka for scotch to make a Scotch & Soda if you want something that packs more of a punch.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Soda

Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee in a glass mug.
Irish Coffee. Photo Credit: Feast and West.

A simple blend of hot coffee and Irish whiskey, the Irish Coffee provides a comforting and indulgent beverage option for your flight. The traditional version has a whipped cream topping you won’t be able to get in-flight, so adding half-and-half or even Baileys Irish cream liqueur can help achieve a creamy texture.
Get the Recipe: Irish Coffee

Whiskey & Coke

A dark brown cocktail with ice sits surrounded by a whole lime and gold cocktail tools.
Whiskey & Coke. Photo credit: Feast + West.

A classic whiskey and cola is perfect for sipping on an airplane. Order your Whiskey & Coke with bourbon, scotch or Irish whiskey and your favorite cola to create a drink you’ll love. But keep in mind that Diet Coke takes a long time to fizz, especially at higher altitudes, so asking for it might hold up the line.
Get the Recipe: Whiskey & Coke

Ranch Water

Tajín seasoning on the rim of a cocktail next to a bottle of topo chico soda.
Ranch Water. Photo credit: Feast + West.

You’ll love the rejuvenating quality of the Ranch Water cocktail, consisting of lime juice, tequila, and sparkling water. Some airlines don’t offer tequila on flights, so check the in-flight menu first. You can order this drink with lime-flavored sparkling water (if they have it), club soda or lemon-lime soda to make a simpler, airplane version of this delicious cocktail.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Water

Sangria

a pitcher of Strawberry Rosé Sangria with fresh strawberries and ice.
Strawberry Sangria. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Even without fresh fruit, you can still enjoy a DIY version of Sangria on an airplane by requesting cranberry juice and red wine. This beverage makes you feel like you’re already (or still) on vacation, making it a delightful choice for your in-flight experience.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Sangria

Old-Fashioned

the best old-fashioned cocktail recipe in a patterned glass with a sphere ice cube on a black and white plaid coaster.
Old-Fashioned Cocktail. Photo credit: Feast + West.

If you love stiff whiskey cocktails, this one’s for you. Bring a cocktail kit with you that includes a small container of bitters (stow it in your bag of liquids, of course) and ask for bourbon on the rocks. If you like your old-fashioneds on the sweet side, ask for a packet of sugar and a stirrer. Then add a few dashes of bitters or even a splash of orange juice.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Cocktail Kit

Moscow Mule

A Moscow mule with limes and a juicer on a marble background.
Moscow Mule. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Vodka and ginger ale make a crude version of the Moscow Mule, which typically contains a spicier soda called ginger beer. If the flight attendant has limes on their cart, a squeeze of lime juice will take this drink over the top.
Get the Recipe: Moscow Mule

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