With airlines operating fewer flights than in the past, there’s a lot of excess inventory of just about anything you’d usually find on a flight. As a result, we’ve seen some items being sold directly to consumers, ranging from American Airlines’ first class nuts, to Qantas’ business class pajamas.
Well, British Airways’ onboard products are the latest to hit the market. Pickering’s Gin is selling minis of British Airways’ gin that was specially created for the company’s centenary celebration.
The company is selling a case of 24 minis for £32.00, suggesting that the regular price would be £84.00, so that does represent quite a discount. The price includes tax but doesn’t include shipping, and unfortunately they’ll only ship to the UK.
This is gin that was presumably supposed to be served onboard flights, but with British Airways scaling back its operations, the company has excess inventory.
British Airways first introduced this gin last year. As Pickering’s Gin describes this product:
A world first, this gin has been expertly distilled to taste as good at altitude as it does on the ground. Our unique ten botanical blend celebrates the very best of British flora and fauna with rose petals and heather lending a soft and sweet note to our signature Bombay blend.
Expertly distilled in partnership with British Airways to celebrate its Centenary year, we’re offering you the chance to buy a case of 24 plastic miniatures at a remarkably good price.
British Airways heavily promoted this gin when it was introduced last year. The primary selling point of this gin was supposed to be that it was designed to taste as good at altitude as on the ground. Our tastebuds are often duller at altitude (due to the dry air, pressure, etc.), so this gin was designed to address that.
In a way it’s rather ironic that a gin was specially designed to taste as good as possible in the air, and now it’s being sold to consumers directly on the ground. 😉
Bottom line
A lot of businesses are being impacted by the huge decrease in demand that airlines are seeing, and that includes food & drink suppliers. We’re now seeing British Airways’ gin supplier sell BA’s “special” anniversary gin in minis.
It’s cool that you could enjoy this at home, though at the same time, if the gin was designed specifically for consumption at altitude, then arguably it might not be as great on the ground.
If you want to buy something from British Airways and have a higher budget, you can always pick up some artwork from British Airways lounges…
Anyone in the UK plan on buying some British Airways gin?
Oh bugger I've missed it! :(
Sold out
@David Z, Wow I must have a look
You can also buy Speedbird 100 Brewdog IPA online. I would love to get a pack when I move back to the UK later this year
Obviously a winner as it sold out immediately ha ha
Update- Still available via the head for points web page ?
NOW SOLD OUT !!!!
@ Froggee- Don’t get them mixed up
Price is often the issue.
As @Kerry has stated in a previous comment, this is a great buy! It may not seem so to some people, who live in some other countries, but here in the UK, the Excise Duty on 1.2 litre (24 × 5 cL) is about 13 GBP, and there is also 20% VAT (Value Added Tax - about 5 GBP) included in the selling price. That means that Pickerings is receiving about 13 GBP for distilling,...
As @Kerry has stated in a previous comment, this is a great buy! It may not seem so to some people, who live in some other countries, but here in the UK, the Excise Duty on 1.2 litre (24 × 5 cL) is about 13 GBP, and there is also 20% VAT (Value Added Tax - about 5 GBP) included in the selling price. That means that Pickerings is receiving about 13 GBP for distilling, bottling, packing and shipping 24 miniature bottles of good quality gin to anywhere in the UK. And let's not forget that buying gin-minitures normally costs much more than buying gin in large (70 cL or 1 L) bottles. I've ordered two cases!
NB The values above are rounded down to the nearest whole numbers.
As @Kerry has stated in a previous comment, this is a great buy! It may not seem so to some people, who live in some other countries, but here in the UK, the Excise Duty on 1.2 litre (24 × 5 cL) is about 13 GBP, and there is also 20% VAT (Value Added Tax - about 5 GBP) included in the selling price. That means that Pickerings is receiving about 13 GBP for distilling,...
As @Kerry has stated in a previous comment, this is a great buy! It may not seem so to some people, who live in some other countries, but here in the UK, the Excise Duty on 1.2 litre (24 × 5 cL) is about 13 GBP, and there is also 20% VAT (Value Added Tax - about 5 GBP) included in the selling price. That means that Pickerings is receiving about 13 GBP for distilling, bottling, packing and shipping 24 miniature bottles of good quality gin to anywhere in the UK. And let's not forget that buying gin-minitures normally costs much more than buying gin in large (70 cL or 1 L) bottles. I've ordered two cases!
NB The values above are rounded down to the nearest whole numbers.
This is a great buy - already ordered some. Had it a few times onboard and it seemed quite drinkable... Definitely better and more unique than other gins at that price range. If you divide back to a standard 750ml bottle here in the U.K. it works out to £20 for a standard bottle, which would not buy anything better than Bombay gin in this country, maybe not even better than Gordon’s, god forbid. For...
This is a great buy - already ordered some. Had it a few times onboard and it seemed quite drinkable... Definitely better and more unique than other gins at that price range. If you divide back to a standard 750ml bottle here in the U.K. it works out to £20 for a standard bottle, which would not buy anything better than Bombay gin in this country, maybe not even better than Gordon’s, god forbid. For the price it’s not bad at all to keep as a conversation piece when making drinks.
I thinks it’s sad, rather than amusing though, that the distillery has to flog this at fire-sale prices and that BA is unable to use it.
So it tastes even better on the ground?
Forgive me but I calculated 120ci to equal 1.97 liter or 2.63 bottles (of your regular 750 ml). I was off calculating Euro rather than the correct currency, British pound. Which makes around $16 per 750 ml bottle.
Regardless, your British spelling is fine!
Cheers!
Bought some. But Kalboz’s calculations are way off. 1.2 litres for £35 = $28.63 per 750ml bottle. But it will be a funny gift. I added a £3 bottle of hand sanitiser for free shipping. Excuse my British spelling!
If my calculations are correct, that would make it $14.40 per 750ml bottle which is a good price and the same as buying a bottle of cheap gin. But with shipping, tax, and CRV, it would be much better just to get the ubiquitous Gordon’s or Bombay Sapphire.
I personally enjoy Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice ($35).
Flora and FAUNA!? Hahahahaha what was in my gin!?!?!
Ginosaurs, @swag
" the very best of British flora and fauna "
Fauna???
Wonder how the carviar market is doing. Wasn't LH the largest customer of caviar? Maybe next?