You arrive on the plane and meander to your seat in first class. You put your carry-on bag into the overhead bin and stow your personal bag into the space made to hold such things. You’ve just got yourself settled in your lie-flat seat when the flight attendant comes around and asks you if you’d like a beverage.
You reply, “A Bloody Mary, please.”
There’s a good reason to order a Bloody Mary on a flight – apparently, it tastes better on a plane than on land. But we’ll get to the science of that in a second.
The best alcoholic drinks on a plane
Of course, the list will vary any time you start listing “the best” anything. Personal opinion. Payoffs. You name it. Anyway, with that in mind, here are what some well-known publications say are the “best” alcoholic drinks to order on a plane:
Condé Nast Traveler (November, 2023):
- Bloody Mary
- Gin & Tonic
- Moscow Mule
- Mimosa
- Jalapeño Margarita
- Wasabi Martini
- Wine
Travel & Leisure (November, 2019):
- Bloody Mary
- Moscow Mule
- Gin & Tonic
- Mimosa
- Rum & Coke
- Scotch & Soda
Advanced Mixology (February, 2023):
- Sangria
- Bloody Mary
- Simple Wine Cocktail
- Shandygaff
- Moscow Mule
- Mint Julep
- Screwdriver
- Mimosa
- Irish Coffee
Executive Traveller (April, 2024):
They didn’t list their drinks in order, per se. But this is the order in which they mentioned them:
- Bloody Mary
- Aperol Spritz
- Vermouth-based drinks
- Gin & tonic
- Singapore Airlines’ Grand Pineapple Daiquiri
- Breakfast Martini
- Espresso Martini
Did you notice anything? Bloody Mary was #1 for all but one, and even then, it was a solid #2.
What’s the deal with Bloody Marys?
We can thank science for Bloody Marys tasting good on a plane with their spicy-umami flavor profile.
Low humidity levels
You’ve probably read that your sense of smell and taste is muted on a plane. This is generally believed to be because nasal and oral cavities tend to dry out when we fly due to decreased humidity levels. Some flavors, particularly sweet and salty, may be muted by as much as 30%.
Cornell’s research
However, in 2015, Cornell University did a deep dive. It turns out that airplane noise (yes, NOISE – like, the constant 85 decibels of noise when you’re on a plane) also affects the palate.
“Our study confirmed that in an environment of loud noise, our sense of taste is compromised. Interestingly, this was specific to sweet and umami tastes, with sweet taste inhibited and umami taste significantly enhanced,” said Robin Dando, assistant professor of food science.
And guess what drink tends to have that savory umami flavor? Tomato juice.
Put them all together and…
So when you’re drinking your Bloody Mary at 35,000 feet, you’ve got an advanced umami flavor going on. Sour, bitter, and spicy flavors aren’t really affected by the humidity levels or the noise on the plane. That means the spiciness of your Bloody Mary will be enhanced as well, in light of its saltiness being muted by the lack of humidity in the plane.
And that’s why so many people say that Bloody Marys taste not only different but better in the air than they do on land.
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