Air Mail

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                                               Air Mail

After writing monthly articles for “Got Rum?” for more than four years, I am always on the hunt for new cocktails to write about.  When I came across Air Mail I was so excited because not only had I not written about it, but until yesterday I had not made it either!   The Air Mail is a wonderful combination of aged rum, honey, lime juice and champagne.  One could look at the Air Mail and think of it as a French 75/Bees Knees combo…..or even a twist on a Daiquiri….but I really see it as a unique recipe.   The honey adds a flavor element you definitely don’t get from simple syrup and the lime, instead of lemon, also makes this classic stand alone.   The addition of sparkling wine or champagne gives the Air Mail texture, which I just love in a cocktail.   It also brings an elevated, almost festive and fancy feeling to this drink, but would also make it perfect to pair with brunch.  

Like the majority of the classics I write about, the Air Mail’s origins and who first made it is up for debate. The 1941 book “Here’s How, Mixed Drinks” by W.C. Whitfield, included the Air Mail, as well as the descriptor “It ought to make you fly high”.   In 1949, Esquire magazine editors produced “Handbook for Hosts”, a book with all of the hints and suggestions for the perfect party, from appetizers and cocktails to decor and games-- also containing the Air Mail recipe.  The real Air Mail (think U.S. Post Office) started in the U.S. in 1911 and was revolutionary at that time.  Cuba began their own Air Mail service in 1930, and Bacardi even mentioned the Air Mail cocktail in a promotional pamphlet, with a picture of it featuring a postage stamp as a garnish.   Regardless of who was the first person to make it, this fantastic drink has stood the test of time.   

I love working with honey because of its very specific flavor, but it is important to make a honey “syrup”.   Honey is not going to dissolve very well in a cold drink so I like to mix it with hot water (1-1) which changes it to a more liquid consistency.   

You can also have a lot of fun with different types of honey to give variations to this drink.  Look into local honeys, especially ones infused with herbs like lavender or thyme, they will add a really interesting element to this cocktail.

Air Mail Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz. Cuban White Rum (ideally Cuban, but you can play with different aged rums for a different flavor profile)
  • .75 oz. 1-1 Honey Syrup
  • .75 oz.  Fresh Lime Juice

Directions:

  1. Shake well with ice and strain into a coupe or champagne flute.
  2. Top with Brut champagne/sparkling wine.  
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist, and a stamp!