DIY Airplane Cocktail Kits make a perfect holiday gift for your jet-setting friends. Learn how to make each versatile kit, which can make two kinds of cocktails — an easy Old-Fashioned or a fancy Champagne Cocktail.
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Let’s all agree: Airplane hosts and hostesses are not bartenders. Usually. I’m sure there are some wonderful exceptions, but most of the time, the airplane bar cart is pretty limited.
There’s only so many rum-and-cokes a girl can take, especially on a long cross-country trip to San Francisco or international flight.
(Speaking of international trips, I’ve also got a list of must-have apps for international travel.)
Solution? Little pre-made airplane cocktail kits you can take on your next trip.
I’ve seen, tried and liked store-bought airplane cocktail kits. I’ve always thought they would make fantastic gifts.
Unfortunately, the ones I’ve seen have been pretty pricey — and you still have to buy your booze on the plane.
So, I decided to see if I could make my own!
DIY AIRPLANE COCKTAIL KITS
What I discovered is that making your own airplane cocktail kits is pretty easy.
You’ll need to buy your materials in bulk and spend an hour or so putting them together, but you’ll wind up with a bunch of DIY airplane cocktail kits that you can give as presents to your most travel-savvy friends.
Or, you know, make a ton of these for yourself and take one on each trip with you. (I’ll probably do the same now!)
WHAT’S IN AN AIRPLANE COCKTAIL KIT?
Each DIY airplane cocktail kit comes with a cute carrying case filled with sugar cubes, bitters, a napkin and a makeshift muddler, aka a food-safe popsicle stick!
You can get a lot of the materials at your local craft store, but I like to buy them on Amazon. Hard to beat that free Prime shipping.
I’ve included links to my favorite materials in the printable instruction card below.
Each kit can make either 2 champagne cocktails or 2 old-fashioned cocktails, or one of each. Both require similar ingredients but different spirits.
For a champagne cocktail, the kit-user will want to purchase brandy or vodka and champagne or prosecco.
For an old-fashioned, they’ll want their favorite bourbon or whiskey.
The kits, however, do not come with a glass, ice or booze! They’ll need to get that on the plane and mix the cocktails themselves.
The small, airplane-sized bottles of spirits may be small enough to fit in carry-on liquids bags, but the FAA doesn’t allow you to bring your own alcohol. So, if you’re giving a kit as a gift, you could always slip in a little cash to pay for your friend’s booze on the plane!
For the bitters, you’ll need to decant some cocktail bitters into a small glass bottle. You can use any bitters you like.
I used my favorite orange and fig bitters from local, craft-made Crude Bitters. Angostura bitters are always classic, too, so just grab a bottle of your favorite.
With that, you’ve got the perfect holiday gift for yourself or your best traveling friend! Or both! Bon voyage and bon appetit to you! // susannah
DIY Airplane Cocktail Kits
DIY Airplane Cocktail Kits make a perfect holiday gift for your jet-setting friends. Learn how to make each versatile kit, which can make two kinds of cocktails — an easy Old-Fashioned or a fancy Champagne Cocktail.
Materials
- 1 metal hinge container
- 1 piece of cotton fabric (cut into an 8 in. x 8 in. piece) or 1-2 cocktail napkins
- 1 2-milliliter glass bottle
- 2 milliliters cocktail bitters
- 2 food-safe popsicle sticks
- 4 sugar cubes
- cash (optional)
- paper and pen or marker (optional)
- ribbon or string
Instructions
- Fold the napkin and place it in the bottom of the tin.
- Fill bottle with bitters.
- On top of the napkin, add bitters bottle, popsicle sticks, sugar cubes and cash, if including. If you like, enclose a note with directions, including the recipe below.
- Close tin. Tie with a ribbon or string.
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Airplane Cocktails
Use a DIY Airplane Cocktail Kit to make 2 Old-Fashioneds, 2 Champagne Cocktails or 1 of each!
Ingredients
FOR AIRPLANE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
- 1 sugar cube
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- 1.5 ounces brandy or vodka
- 4 ounces champagne or prosecco
FOR AIRPLANE OLD-FASHIONED COCKTAIL
- 1 sugar cube
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- 4 ounces bourbon or whiskey
Instructions
To make airplane champagne cocktail:
- Place sugar cube(s) in bottom of cup. Top with 1-2 dashes bitters. Let sit 1-2 minutes. Top with brandy, then champagne.
To make airplane old-fashioned cocktail:
- Place sugar cube(s) in bottom of cup. Top with 1-2 dashes bitters. Let sit 1-2 minutes. Top with bourbon or whiskey. Add ice.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 394Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g
Ashley says
Wonderful gift idea for the frequent traveler!
Susannah says
Yes, definitely! I know a few folks who would love these!
Cindy Diez says
Such a cute idea! Who absolutely try it if there wasn’t the issue of people being able to transport the outside liquids through security at the airport 🙁
Susannah says
Hey Cindy! Small bottles like the bitters should fit in the TSA-approved liquids bags. Otherwise, a traveler can purchase booze and mixers on the plane itself.
Anonymous Flight Attendant says
Hey! Just to let you know, the FAA says that you can NOT consume your own alcohol on an aircraft. So even if someone brings their own minis it’s illegal for them to open and drink those once they’ve boarded. The kits are a cute idea, but you should make sure your readers know that they need to purchase their booze on the plane.
Susannah says
That’s a great point! Thanks for sharing.
Samantha S. says
Thank you for pointing that out. Most people are unaware of that law (clearly the author doesn’t know!) and could face fines.
Susannah says
Hey Samantha, Thanks for your comment! I actually updated this post with correct information in 2016, after receiving the comment from Anonymous, which I did not know at the time of original publish. I always aim to provide 100% correct information here on Feast + West, and I appreciate them letting me know in the first place.
debbie says
where do you purchase the small containers for the bitters
Susannah says
Hey Debbie! I get mine on Amazon. I use 2 ml bottles (the same kind one might use for essential oils, etc.) Hope this helps!