In-flight cocktails are generally basic. Â You have mixers and you have liquors, and you pair them one-to-one. Â So you get your Jack and Ginger, or Cranberry and Vodka (hi, Jamison!), or Rum and Coke.
But sometimes, when I’m feeling fancy and the flight attendant in a playful mood, I will order a more complex drink. Â Here are some cocktails you can make using what’s aboard the usual domestic flight.
Madras
Vodka, orange juice and cranberry juice with a lime. Â Some people say it reminds them of a cosmo, but it really is a Sex on the Beach without the peach schnapps.
Gin (I use vodka), orange juice, tonic water and lime. Â This is sort of a screwdriver, but much more refreshing. Â I can’t drink gin so I have no idea how that affects the taste. Â Sometimes I replace the tonic water with club soda.
Apple Dapple
(Canadian) whiskey, apple juice, and a couple of lime wedges. Â Squeeze as much of the juice in as you can. Â It’s supposed to taste like a dessert with the same name, but I’ve never had it.
Whiskey CobblerÂ
Whiskey, club soda, and a sugar packet. Â Swirl with a swizzle stick and feel fancy.
 Faux-jito
I know, I know, this is a stretch, but it’s pretty tasty. Â Rum, sprite, sugar packet, and lime wedges. Â Mix together and imagine mint as you sip it. Â It isn’t a real mojito without the mint, but it’s refreshing.
I haven’t had this one, but I know someone who swears by it as a mostly-cosmo. Â US Airways has cosmos on flights, so I haven’t had to try to fake it. Â Vodka, cranberry, sprite (or sprite zero), and lime.
If you are on a flight that scoops out ice cream, just saying–Baileys over ice cream is amazing.
I want to stress that you should only try these out if you develop a rapport with the flight attendant. Â Don’t demand ridiculously fancy drinks if the flight attendant is busy, and please don’t order them by name. Â Help them out and list the ingredients!
What do you order on the plane?
On a recent Malaysian Airlines flight I ordered a gin and tonic with a splash of contreau. Very good.
I make a mudslide when I fly. 🙂 Most of the FAs have never seen one made inflight and get a kick out of it.
I also made them on the StarMegaDO4.
Ooo, very nice. US Airways doesn’t have Kahlua, and I tried just Bailey’s and Vodka once, and well–I fell asleep really quickly!