Which airlines offer signature cocktails on board?

I really quite like cocktails, for a variety of reasons. When well done they are gorgeously tasty, plus they are usually interesting to look at. Some airlines serve signature cocktails in their premium classes, which is extra special and relatively rare.

Show me signature anything (or “Limited Edition”) and I’m on it like a duck on a june bug. It generally means I’m going to taste something unique that I have not come across before, and I’m all for new experiences.

Normal Cocktails and Mocktails

Several carriers offer standard cocktails on board in business class and first class. British Airways will do Champagne cocktails such as a Kir Royale (Champagne and Crème de Cassis) or Buck’s Fizz (Two parts Champagne, one part orange juice). Cathay Pacific do things such as a Cloud Nine and Pacific Sunrise.

Qatar Airways pull out all the stops, offering a Champagne cocktail, a Buck’s Fizz, along with other well known cocktails such as a Cuba Libre, Whiskey or Brandy Sour, Old Fashioned, Screwdriver, Pink Gin and a Dry Martini.

Mocktails are also becoming more popular as the younger generations are not drinking as much. Frequent flyers also know that drinking on board really makes jet lag a whole lot worse as well, so mocktails are here to stay. Cathay Pacific do a delicious Cathay Delight and they published the recipe so you can make it at home.

Qatar Airways also do some great ones, such as the Pineapple Margarita (I’m a big fan!), Orangeade, Pineapple Punch, Apple Cooler and a Spiced Tomato Juice. Nobody goes thirsty when flying on a oneworld carrier!

Signature Cocktails!

Finnair have a Blue Sky, which contains Finnish Lapponia blueberry liqueur and Champagne. Considering blueberry is the airline’s chosen signature drink, it’s probably not surprising the cocktail contains this.

The refreshing, sweet @Finnair signature drink "Blue Sky" is made with this Blueberry Finnish liqueur, Lapponia. #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/FUcL57sWcI

— Enrique Perrella (@Enrique77W) November 23, 2016

Eva Air of Taiwan offer an Evergreen Special, which is a combination of melon liqueur, vodka and lemonade. Vietnam Airlines have three signature cocktails, called Beloved Hue, Phan Thiet Red Dunes and Gongs Dance. Makes you want to get straight on board, doesn’t it?

JetBlue have a mint based cocktail for their Mint class passengers, which comprises of a honey infused limeade with vodka, lime, club soda and mint. Apparently it’s quite nice, but then it’s hard to screw up a cocktail!

Finally, there was also a Pan Am Clipper Cocktail in the past. You can see that recipe above, so you can try it for yourself during the pandemic. There’s certainly time!

Overall Thoughts

Signature cocktails are a good thing and hopefully more airlines get on board with these. I do like how they try to reflect an airline’s branding, such as the blue with Finnair and green with Eva Air and Cathay Pacific. It certainly makes sense.

Have you tried any signature cocktails when flying before? Are there any that particularly stand out in your memory? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image via Vietnam Airlines.