5 O’Clocktail: Does Time Matter When You’re 30,000ft Up?

“Would you like anything to eat or drink?” the stewardess asked as the airplane propelled south through the clouds to Barcelona.

“I’ll have two Johnnie Walkers and a Diet 7-Up, please,” the man next to me replied.

“Sure thing,” she chirped, fidgeting with her cart.

It wasn’t an unusual request from an Englishman on his way to holiday in Spain. Her blank response indicated she’d heard it at least once before.

It was 7:15 a.m.

I don’t use this blog for social critique. However, if you are openly consuming alcohol at 5 o’clock New Zealand time anywhere near the prime meridian, be prepared to get a few curious looks.

Anyway, let’s stick to the main issue.

Do whisky and 7-Up actually work together?

Well, it’s close to a pretty classic cocktail. Just ask anyone who was an adult in the 70s to recall sipping a 7 and 7  — a mix of Seagram’s Seven (a blended American whiskey) and 7-Up, on the rocks. It’s the stuff that thrust John Travolta onto the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever.

I never expected to see this boogie juice on a plane next to me at 7:15 a.m.

Sure, it’s a good enough cocktail on its own but I think some things are perhaps best left for after daylight…maybe under the glow of a disco ball?

Stay groovy and drink responsibly.