Originally Posted by
joejones
On the topic of Bloody Marys, I recall reading that airlines couldn’t figure out a viable way to offer them in-flight until AA discovered a couple known as Mr. and Mrs. T who were making mix in their garage. AA started stocking their mix in the 60’s, and the couple quickly became so overwhelmed with business that they had to sell to Del Monte.
The worst Bloody Mary I have ever had was in JAL business class about a month ago. They mixed vodka with plain tomato juice and served it with packets of salt and pepper. It was a travesty.
One of the best Bloody Marys I've ever enjoyed on an airline was on board a MarkAir 737-400 in the first class cabin on a flight from Seattle to Anchorage. They were absolutely delicious. If I remember correctly, MarkAir owner Neil Bergt was reportedly a big Bloody Mary fan and that was reflected in the Bloody Marys served by the airline. BTW, Mr. Bergt served as Chairman and CEO of Western Airlines back in the early 1980's.
MarkAir was an interesting airline that traces its roots back to Fairbanks-based Interior Airways (which operated a Boeing 727-100 combi as well as various piston and turboprop aircraft types including the Lockheed L-100 Hercules freighter during its existence). By 1991, MarkAir and MarkAir Express were operating an extensive route system in Alaska. Here are their 1991 route maps as well as the aircraft types they were operating at the time...
https://www.departedflights.com/BF060891.html
https://www.departedflights.com/BFthebest91.html
And here's a photo of an Interior Airways 727-100 combi back in 1969...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarkAi...727C_11.69.jpg