You don’t have to be at cruising altitude on “#TravelTuesday” to enjoy one of our favorite onboard cocktails.

This refreshing take on a classic gin-orange buck (an old name for a cocktail with ginger) is shared by Erik Chapman, barman at Seattle’s Sun Liquor Distillery, a small, local business which produces the premium gin, rum and vodka served onboard Alaska Airlines flights.

Flying today? Ask for orange juice and ginger ale with your Sun Liquor Hedge Trimmer Gin – and don’t forget the lemon garnish.

This is a wonderful drink for summer,” says Chapman. “I like to keep things really simple and clean, and the orange juice and ginger ale just pair so well with the gin.”

He says Sun Liquor’s “Hedge Trimmer Gin,” is infused with botanical flavors during the distilling process, which are enhanced by the flavors of the orange juice and ginger ale.

The citrus brings out the angelica, while the ginger brings out the cardamom and coriander.

The best part? All four ingredients are available onboard.

“I think it’s really cool to have something that is on par with something that you could come to Sun Liquor Distillery, come to the bar, and get that same drink,” says Chapman. “You are limited on a flight, not just with ingredients but also with time. This is a very cool way to add that third dimension of flavor on an airline.”

If you make the drink at home, Chapman recommends using fresh-squeezed juice and experimenting with different kinds of ginger ale and ginger beer until you find a mix with the right amount of bite.

And don’t forget to have fun.

Just play around with it,” he says. “That’s the most important thing. It’s cocktails – it’s supposed to be fun!”

Sun Liquor UNXLD Vodka, Sun Liquor Hedge Trimmer Gin, and Sun Liquor Sun Rum Silver, along with another local favorite, Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso Vodka, and Courvoisier Cognac are premium liquors available to purchase onboard for $7.

The micro-distillery has two locations on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It’s owned by Michael Klebeck, co-founder of another hyper-Seattle brand: Top Pot Doughnuts.

Sun Liquor has been flying since September 2013, and is part of Alaska’s ongoing commitment to feature locally sourced food and beverage onboard.

“There are many wonderful products out there, but I think it’s great when you can support your local community first,” says Kirsten Robinett, Alaska’s onboard food and beverage product manager. “It’s worth it to us because it sets us apart from what a lot of other airlines are doing.”

If you go:

Sun Liquor Bar & Distillery

512 E. Pike St.

Seattle, WA 98122

Sun Liquor Lounge

607 Summit Ave. E

Seattle, WA 98102

What’s your favorite onboard cocktail?