No more Cranberry Mocktail in J

[JessicaTam]

Not that I fly with VA very much, but I did like the mocktail as one of the small differentiators from QF.

Edit: Now can a VA insider get the recipe/manufacturer?

 

[QF WP]

I've now had pre-departure cranberry juice served on two Qantas (Domestic J) flights in the last few months! It is much sweeter that what VA use to have though.

Great, I hope to get it tomorrow night then . I should then take a photo and send to VA on twitter...

 

[dk4]

Great, I hope to get it tomorrow night then...

QF cycle the pre-departure juice flavour, so it's a bit of a lottery. Two flights in the last few months, doesn't represent a huge cranberry result for me, but good luck It is sweet, not tart like the former VA pre-departure drink.

 

[hgwells01]

Well I emailed and got a response with a hint it might be coming back, so I suggest if you like it you keep asking for it, email, tweet or whatever you choose to do and we might get it back, still waiting for someone in the know to tell me actually what it was so I can make my own, surely it was just like a cordial type of thing or is it pre mixed?

 

[Boris spatsky]

It is pre-mixed out of a bottle. I took a photo of the bottle in the galley a few years ago but never had any luck finding it for sale in retail. Can't remember the name.

 

[R36snowbound]

Flew back J MEL TO SYD earlier this week, asked the FA about what happened to the Mocktail. She said they are working on something better and she is sure it won't be to long before the new offering is released. FA also said that she had been surprised about how many guests had noticed that it was no longer being offered and had asked about it.

 

[maninblack]

FA also said that she had been surprised about how many guests had noticed that it was no longer being offered and had asked about it.

The LCC ethos is still strong. They simply don't get it.

 

[QF WP]

The "something new" has big shoes to fill - but mineral water won't do it. Neither will OJ. C'mon VA, have something planned and ready to implement before you pull a favourite.

 

[maninblack]

The "something new" has big shoes to fill - but mineral water won't do it. Neither will OJ. C'mon VA, have something planned and ready to implement before you pull a favourite.

I strongly suspect that the "something new" line is really, how do I placate another unhappy customer?

 

[jazza1971]

was offered water and juice one flight and sparkling water & juice on another across the weekend....much preferred my mocktail!

 

[AviatorPJ]

Please bring the Mocktail back VFF. Even while/if you are "worklng" on something better.?
But why go better, with an accepted "signature" brand J item?
Same for the VA Coast to Coast J service. Another "signature" service item. Both service signature items differentiates VA from the rest.

 

[Buzzard]

I must post the recipe for a Faulconbridge Sunset

 

[atreides]

Maybe they'll swap it out with the Singapore Sling?

 

[anat0l]

Those with a hankering for the mocktail might like to try mixing your own.

As I understand it, the mocktail is a non-alcoholic adaptation of Luke Mangan's The Australian signature coughtail. According to the coughtail menu in glass brassiere, the ingredients of The Australian are: "Tanqueray Gin, Cointreau, Hennessy VS Cognac, kaffir lime leaf, ginger, Luke’s syrup & cranberry juice".

The VA coast-to-coast Business wine menu gives The Australian as: "A blend of white spirits, cognac and cranberry juice, freshened with ginger and lime syrup"

What is in Luke's syrup? No idea. No crude jokes, please.

So I'm guessing to make the mocktail, the main base will be cranberry juice (probably / preferably one without additional sugar), then add some hints of ginger and lime (either as a syrup, infusion or cordial), mix in a spray of either sparkling or soda water (my guess), and voila. A good cranberry juice will be suitably acidic, but the mocktail is subtly sweet without too much acid kick, so I'm guessing something has to be added which is sweet (this also replaces part of the effects of the spirits in the original recipe).

 

[goingboeing]

Those with a hankering for the mocktail might like to try mixing your own.

If it helps - here's the ingredient list from the Mocktail bottles before VA cruelly took them away;

Filtered Water, Reconstituted Cranberry Juice (20%), Sugar, Tahitian Lime Juice (8%), Infusion (7%) - Cinnamon (1.8%), Kaffir Lime Leaf (0.6%), Ginger (0.1%) - White Wine Vinegar.

This was all for a 350ml serving size - so you can probably guestimate the amounts required.

Manufactured by Emma & Tom Foods in Victoria. Don't suppose they'd do a run for AFFers if we wanted a case each....

So perhaps we don't need Luke's Syrup after all

 

[JessicaTam]

If it helps - here's the ingredient list from the Mocktail bottles before VA cruelly took them away;

Filtered Water, Reconstituted Cranberry Juice (20%), Sugar, Tahitian Lime Juice (8%), Infusion (7%) - Cinnamon (1.8%), Kaffir Lime Leaf (0.6%), Ginger (0.1%) - White Wine Vinegar.

This was all for a 350ml serving size - so you can probably guestimate the amounts required.

Manufactured by Emma & Tom Foods in Victoria. Don't suppose they'd do a run for AFFers if we wanted a case each....

So perhaps we don't need Luke's Syrup after all

You could always ask them nicely.

 

[QF WP]

Just looked up their website - they do have stockists. The cranberry & raspberry is on Page 4.

Perhaps their supply contract finished and VA have either switched products or suppliers

 

[JessicaTam]

Just looked up their website - they do have stockists. The cranberry & raspberry is on Page 4.

Perhaps their supply contract finished and VA have either switched products or suppliers

The mocktail was made by Emma and Tom under licence for Virgin/Luke Mangin and was recently discontinued. It is different to the raspberry and cranberry life water.

There is a new mocktail in the pipeline as a replacement but is still under development and has yet to be confirmed.

 

[blueturkey]

found this cleaning out photos. bring back the mocktail! or something better

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There is a new mocktail in the pipeline as a replacement but is still under development and has yet to be confirmed.

Well that's good news, but I must say that I do find it somewhat bizarre that they offer nothing but water or juice for a lengthy period while they "develop" the replacement. Is it so strange to plan in advance and have the replacement ready to swap out upon contract change? Not a life changer of course, but I do think it goes to show that VA struggles with continuity of services lauded.