English bubbly and now alcohol-free gin — airlines are realizing conventions are one of the few things you can break on an aircraft without prompting an investigation.
British Airways caused consternation in Champagne with the introduction to first class flyers of English sparkling wine and now Air New Zealand is set to leave London livid with New Zealand’s first artisan distilled alcohol-free gin.
The gin from New Zealand company Ecology & Co. is distilled from botanicals with the alcohol missing and taps into a move by millennials to seek out healthier alternatives.
This is not the first time something served on an AirNZ flight is not what it seems; the airline last year was the world’s first carrier to serve the new meatless Impossible Burger.
READ: Air New Zealand on burger mission impossible.
London dry, according to the company’s website, is a blend of juniper, coriander, lemon, licorice root, angelica, cassia, basil, cumin, black pepper and orris.
It apparently has “a familiar fragrant taste and a long, refreshing finish”.
Asian Spice includes cardamom, black pepper, cassia, lemon myrtle, cumin and basil for “a warm sensual finish”.
In this case, Air NZ is also bouncing off “Dry July”, the month party-goers give their liver a well-earned rest to aid a favorite cause.
The airline says about 11 percent of their customers don’t drink alcohol and one in 10 say they enjoy spirits but don’t imbibe at altitude to avoid dehydration or feeling “sluggish” at their destination.
“There’s also a rising global interest in ‘cleaner’ drink choices to complement the growing clean eating movement, while many customers just want to hit the ground running,” said AirNZ customer experience manager Niki Chave
It will serve two alcohol-free cocktails using Ecology & Co’s Asian Spice and London Dry gins: the Muriwai Mule and the Tahi Rua Tonic.
The gins are sugar, carbohydrate and alcohol-free and Ecology & Co.. founder Di Miller said they had generated tremendous interest since they were launched last October.
“Unlike traditional gins which use alcohol to preserve taste, our spirits are made exclusively of distilled botanicals and spices which we hand blend to create our unique flavors,’’ Miller said.
“The result is a sophisticated, adult drink, without the hangover.”
The gins will be served on NZ27 and NZ28 until July 1 as part of the airline’s program to showcase New Zealand products.
