Air travel is an anger-inducing ordeal. After going through the hassle of the security line, braving crowds of fellow travelers, and navigating inevitable delays, you at least deserve a drink to decompress. But unless you’re one of the people who’s comfortable dropping (at least) $20 on a cocktail at the airport bar, you probably default to a simple mixed drink during your in-flight beverage service.
We think you deserve better. You can have a first-class cocktail experience while sitting in the main cabin; it just requires a bit of imagination. We consulted Cody Goldstein of Muddling Memories to share some easy hacks you can use to mix cocktails with only the ingredients you can find in an airplane beverage cart. Here are three bartender-approved recipes you can use for your next flight:
Margarita
Contrary to what you may think, a good margarita is possible on a plane. Your flight attendant may not have triple sec on hand, but you can achieve similar results with simple syrup. And true to its name, it couldn’t be simpler to make—even at 30,000 feet. Just ask for sugar packets and hot water and stir them together until the granules dissolve.
From there, you can add some of your simple syrup to a cup of ice along with tequila, lime, and a dash of salt. The final result is a margarita that’ll make all of your seatmates jealous.
Rum Punch
If you’re traveling to a tropical destination, why not get the party started early with an in-flight rum punch? Just like with the margarita, start with some simple syrup made from hot water and sugar packets. To complete your cocktail, all you need is cranberry juice, orange juice, and a mini bottle of rum.
Moscow Mule
Airlines may not stock copper mugs or fresh mint, but you can still make a riff on a refreshing Moscow Mule from the (dis)comfort of your plane seat. This hack is the easiest of the three: just ask for some ginger ale, vodka, and lime wedges. The plastic cup isn’t an ideal vessel, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Expertise: TikTok Trends, Drinks, Pop Culture
Education: B.A. in Journalism and B.S. in Communications from NYU, Culinary Arts degree from The Institute of Culinary Education
About Me: As an associate editor at Delish, Gabby works on everything from features to recipes to content on our social media channels. Before joining the team, she wrote for StarChefs Rising Stars Magazine, Mashed, and Food52. When she’s not developing cocktail recipes, she’s making cocktail-inspired dishes like and . Her features cover online trends like the , rank everything from to , and answer some of your most pressing food safety questions. You can also find her posting content on Delish’s TikTok, including her about cooking like influencer Nara Smith that garnered over 3M combined views. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
That boxing theme in Boxing King Jili sounds really engaging! I appreciate how accessible online slots are becoming – easy to pick up & play, even for beginners. Wonder if auto-spin helps with strategy? 🤔