Spirit in the Sky: Drink Recs for Airplane Rides

Being a frequent flyer, I've always noticed that Bloody Mary's tasted better when on the airplane. I wrongfully assumed that this was because of how the airlines prepared their drinks, but recently read this article regarding drink recommendations when flying.

According to the article:

Our taste buds are dampened by the low pressure and humidity in the cabin, as well as the white noise of the engines. This particularly affects flavors that are sweet and salty. The umami taste, however, remains prominent. Tomato juice is high in umami. Worcestershire sauce, meanwhile, is what one cook calls an “umami powerhouse”. Hence a Bloody Mary suddenly becomes more appealing at 30,000 feet.

Since our taste buds change when flying, the article recommends for wines, drinking:

Merlot, Pinotage or Shiraz for reds or Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier for whites.

Airlines have noticed this. Cathay Pacific unveiled its own craft beer for first- and business-class flyers on planes between London and Hong Kong. It seems a thoughtful effort. The hops have been toned down to make it taste less bitter, and fruit and honey have been added as sweeteners.

What do you ask the flight attendant make you? Do you go with the go-to or do you switch it up a bit?

26 Comments
 

Don't get the Bloody Mary, while great reasoning behind why you should(taste), do you really want the salt in the drink to make you look like Vince Vaughn in Old School in only 2 hours(Puffy)? Flying already dehydrates you

Beer- amateur hour. Do you really want to get up to piss every 20 minutes.

The answer is get a Dewars on the rocks, well a double, or two double doubles cause you don't want to have to wait and get the flight attendants attention. Now you're flying like a pro.

 
"C.R.E. Shervin"

Don't get the Bloody Mary, while great reasoning behind why you should(taste), do you really want the salt in the drink to make you look like Vince Vaughn in Old School in only 2 hours(Puffy)? Flying already dehydrates you

Beer- amateur hour. Do you really want to get up to piss every 20 minutes.

The answer is get a Dewars on the rocks, well a double, or two double doubles cause you don't want to have to wait and get the flight attendants attention. Now you're flying like a pro.

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Is a “double double” a legitimate way to order a drink? I’ve always struggled with how to say, ‘Put a lot of liquor in the cup please I don’t want to talk to you for a while or anyone else here really’ in a socially acceptable fashion.

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 
Best Response

When I drink on a plane (usually) I like bloody marys, not because of this umami theory, but rather because the calories are fairly low. Similarly I will have a vodka soda which is marginally even less calories.

On the puffiness issue: Face the fact (no pun intended) that if you are boozing on a flight you aren't going to look 100% when u land.. A couple of Scotches isn't exactly going to have you rolling off the plane looking like you just got done with a juice fast and a cold facial press either. You drink to catch a nice buzz and enjoy the flight not to supplement your beauty regiment.

 
"TechBanking"

Why don't airlines have some decent scotch and whiskey options? Dewars, Jack and Buffalo Trace don't cut it.

Just dump the good stuff into some mini bottles and carry on.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

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