The holidays can be stressful, especially if you have to travel to be with your loved ones. Busy airports, long weather delays and lost luggage are just some of the anxiety-inducing problems that can pop up during the busiest travel times of the year. Give yourself something to ease the stress by stashing a Cocktail Box Co. kit in your carry-on.
By the way, this is the wost time to travel before Thanksgiving.
What’s a Cocktail Box Co. Kit?
The Cocktail Box Co. makes TSA-approved tin carrying cases that contain ingredients to make a premium cocktail on the go. Just order a travel-sized bottle of spirit on your flight or train ride and use the kit’s tools and ingredients to whip up a satisfying cocktail. The kits come in 4 varieties: gin and tonic, Moscow mule, champagne cocktail and old fashioned. While each kit comes with a spoon and muddler, picks, muslin coaster and recipe book, the exact contents depend on the kit. Here’s what each box contains:
- Gin and tonic: three packets of tonic syrup, three packets of lime juice, one bottle of orange bitters and one bottle of lavender bitters. Makes three cocktails.
- Moscow mule: three packets of ginger syrup, three packets of lime juice, one bottle of lemon bitters and one bottle of grapefruit bitters. Makes three cocktails.
- Champagne cocktail: one medium bottle of aromatic bitter, one bottle of lemon bitters, one bottle of lavender bitters and six cane sugar cubes. Makes six cocktails.
- Old fashioned: one medium bottle of aromatic bitter, one bottle of orange bitters, one bottle of grapefruit bitters and six cane sugar cubes. Makes six cocktails.
Speaking of TSA, make sure you know these nine foods you can bring through security, and four you can’t.
Is It Worth It? An Editor’s Review
I was able to put these kits to the test on a recent flight to visit family and can say they’re definitely worth it. I kept the champagne cocktail kit in my carry-on bag and had no problem getting through security with it, only having to take the kit out of the bag as you would with a cell phone or liquids baggie. While you can use the kits at an airport bar, I decided to wait until I boarded the flight. Paired, of course, with these airport-friendly snacks.
Once in the air, I ordered a bottle of sparkling wine and got to work. This specific cocktail instructed me to add a sugar cube to a cup, then a few dashes of the aromatic bitters plus a few more of the lemon or lavender bitters. I went with the lavender which was light and floral. Then I topped the glass with sparkling wine, about half the little bottle fit in the cup, and gave it a good stir.
At first, the bitters and sugar were pretty strong, likely because I wasn’t able to fit the whole bottle in the cup. But, after I was able to drink a quarter or so and then top the cup back up, the cocktail definitely mellowed out. The sugar cube sweetened the brut sparkling wine enough to bring out the wine’s fruity flavor, which paired well with the lavender and aromatic bitters. The bitters also kept the cocktail from getting too sweet, which is something I’m sensitive to in drinks. Overall, it was an easy cocktail that packed a flavor-punch and made my traveling experience all the better.
Stuck with a delayed flight? Kill time at one of the best airport restaurants in the country.
Where to Get Them
You can purchase Cocktail Box Co.’s kits on the company’s website or on Amazon. The kits sell individually for $22 or as a four-pack for $68. If you buy the kits on Amazon, there is also an option for a two-kit pack or two-kit variety pack for $38 and $39, respectively. The kits make a great gift for the frequent traveler in your life, or a little gift for yourself to get through the holiday season.
Next, take a look at these other ways to reduce holiday stress.
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Caroline Stanko