Big rockets, those phallic-shaped edifices to human progress, have inspired these drinks. When it comes down to it, very few nations and companies have made this list. It takes a lot to lift over 10,000 kg to low earth orbit. Each one of these drinks can be lifted to commemorate the effort put into making these rockets. Proven flight hardware only; you can’t drink aspirations (looking at you, Blue Origin).

Name:                                 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III)

Payload to LEO:               10,000 kg

Operator:                           Indian Space Research Organization

Drink:                                   Whisky Mac

The GSLV Mk III is a rocket built to send communications satellites to geostationary orbit and was selected to launch the first Indian Astronaut into space to make India the 4th country to conduct independent human spaceflight. Celebrate this future success with this simple cocktail, the Whisky Mac.

• 1.5 oz blended scotch
• 1 ounce Stone’s Original green ginger wine

Fill an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. Add scotch and green ginger wine; stir lightly.

Name:                                 Atlas V

Payload to LEO:               20,520 kg

Operator:                           United Launch Alliance

Drink:                                   Colorado Bulldog

Initially designed by Lockheed Martin, now operated by their joint venture with Boeing, United Launch Alliance. This rocket depends on Russian RD-180 to get to orbit. ULA is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, and this drink features the Russian nation spirit, vodka.

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz coffee liquor
• 1 oz light cream
• 2 oz cola

Fill an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. Add vodka followed by coffee liquor. Add light cream and top off with cola.

Name:                                 H-IIA

Payload to LEO:               15,000 kg

Operator:                           Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Drink:                                   Cassis Orange

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries took over production and operation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This was the vehicle that launched the Emirates Mars Mission! To celebrate this rocket, we pour this Japanese cocktail, Cassis Orange.

• 1 oz Crème de cassis
• 3 oz orange juice

Fill a parfait glass with ice. Add Crème de cassis, and orange juice. Stir lightly to ensure layering.

Name:                                 Ariane 5

Payload to LEO:               20,000 kg

Operator:                           Arianespace

Drink:                                   Kir

This is the workhorse of the European Space Agency, launched from France’s heart, at the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana. This rocket will launch the James Webb Space Telescope if/when it launches. The Kir is a twist on traditional French aperitif. It is named after Félix Kir, a French Catholic priest, resistance fighter, and politician, who popularized it.

• 0.33 ounce Crème de cassis
• 3 ounces dry white wine

Add Crème de cassis to a white wine glass, then add the dry white wine.

Name:                                 Falcon 9 / Falcon Heavy

Payload to LEO:               22,800 kg / 63,800 kg

Operator:                           SpaceX

Drink:                                   Rum Runner / Rum Runner Heavy

The only partially reusable rockets in operation, the Falcon 9 and its derivative, the Falcon Heavy, are the SpaceX team’s pride and joy. The Falcon 9 is used in conjunction with the Dragon 2 capsule to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station. When three Falcons 9s are combined like a Voltron, you get a Falcon Heavy and machine that will launch the elements of Gateway mini-station as part of the Artemis moon missions. Much like these rockets, the Rum Runner was launched from south Florida, and we have crafted a higher-powered version for you as well.

• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1 oz blackberry liqueur
• 1 oz banana liqueur
• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz dark rum
• 1 splash grenadine
• 1 oz 151 rum

Add pineapple juice, orange juice, blackberry liqueur, banana liqueur, light rum, dark rum, and grenadine syrup to a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously. Pour into a hurricane glass with light ice. Add a float of 151 rum.

Replace all the rum with 151 rum for a Rum Runner Heavy!

Name:                                 UR-500 Proton

Payload to LEO:               23,700 kg

Operator:                           Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center

Drink:                                   Alcohol Design Bureau Drop Shot

This rocket was initially designed to lob 100-megaton thermonuclear weapons intercontinental-ly. It was used to frustrate the development of Sergei Korolev’s N1 rocket. This toxic-fueled behemoth was used by the Russians for many years to launch many payloads. The Alcohol Design Bureau Drop Shot is a custom creation to celebrate this carcinogenic rocket.

• 1 oz vodka
• fill Topo Chico

Pour the Topo into a pint glass. Pour vodka in a shot glass. Drop shot glass into the pint glass and consume.

Name:                                 Long March 5

Payload to LEO:               25,000 kg

Operator:                           China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology

Drink:                                   Peking Coffee

This rocket is the first rocket designed from China to use non-toxic fuels. It’s the third most powerful rocket in the world. The Long March 5 will be used to launch the Chinese Large Modular Space Station starting in April 2021. Despite the old spelling of Beijing, the Peking Coffing is a cocktail using the Chinese premier liqueur, baijiu.

• 1 oz Red Star baijiu
• 1 oz Horchata liqueur
• 1 oz coffee liqueur

Mix ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake it vigorously. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Name:                                 Delta IV Heavy

Payload to LEO:               28,790 kg

Operator:                           United Launch Alliance

Drink:                                   Orange Crush

The latest in the Delta family of rockets, this orange-clad vehicle is used mostly to launch military and reconnaissance satellites into orbit. The first use of the Delta IV Heavy was to send the Parker Solar Probe into a Heliocentric orbit for its mission to study the sun. The insulation of this rocket inspired the pick of the Orange Crush, a Maryland entry to the cocktail world.

• 1 freshly juiced navel orange
• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• 3 oz lemon-lime soda
• Orange wedge garnish
• A sprig of fresh mint

Fill a pint glass with ice. Add vodka, grand marnier and orange juice and stir lightly. Fill with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with orange wedge, and fresh mint.