Air Mail
Gold rum, lime and honey topped with Champagne. A Cuban-style royale from the 1940s.
Shaken · Champagne flute · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 13% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Gold rum
- 22.5 ml Fresh lime juice
- 22.5 ml Honey syrup
- 60 ml Champagne or sparkling wine
- Lime wheel (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml gold rum into the shaker
- Add 22.5 ml fresh lime juice
- Pour 22.5 ml honey syrup into the shaker
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Top with 60 ml champagne or sparkling wine
- Garnish
About the Air Mail
The Air Mail appeared in a 1930s Bacardi pamphlet and in Esquire in 1949. It celebrated the new airmail service with rum, lime, honey and Champagne.
The sparkling family. Champagne cocktails go back to Jerry Thomas's 1862 book, where a sugar cube and bitters were dropped into a glass of sparkling wine. The French 75, the Kir Royale and the Bellini, created in Venice in the 1940s, made sparkling drinks the symbol of celebration.
Air Mail FAQ
What's in an Air Mail?
45 ml gold rum, 22.5 ml fresh lime juice, 22.5 ml honey syrup, 60 ml champagne or sparkling wine, garnished with lime wheel.
How strong is an Air Mail?
About 13% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.0 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is about as strong as a glass of wine or lighter.
Should I shake or stir an Air Mail?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve an Air Mail in?
A champagne flute, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No champagne flute? Use a small wine glass.
