Aviation
- Glass
- Coupe
- Difficulty
- Medium
- ABV
- ~20%
Ingredients
- 2 ozgin60 ml
- ½ ozmaraschino liqueur15 ml
- ¼ ozcrème de violette7.5 ml
- ¾ ozfresh lemon juice22 ml
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds — the maraschino and crème de violette are both quite sweet and need the lemon's acidity to balance them. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. The drink should be a pale, ethereal violet — the color of a clear sky at dusk. Garnish with a brandied cherry or a single violet flower if you can find one.
Sips & Tips
Technique
The crème de violette is the most delicate ingredient here — use a light hand. Too much and the drink becomes perfumed and cloying; too little and you lose the beautiful color and floral note. The ¼ oz measure is the sweet spot. Shake hard to fully integrate the maraschino, which can be sticky.
Balance
Maraschino liqueur (Luxardo is the standard) has a distinctive almond-cherry flavor that can dominate if you're not careful. The ½ oz measure keeps it in check. Use a bold London Dry gin — Beefeater or Tanqueray — to stand up to the sweet liqueurs. The lemon is essential; without it, the drink is too sweet.
History
The Aviation was created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, and first appeared in his 1916 book 'Recipes for Mixed Drinks.' The crème de violette was omitted from many mid-century versions because it was unavailable in the US, but the violet's return to the market in the 2000s restored the drink to its original sky-blue glory.
The Aviation is one of the most beautiful cocktails in the canon — that pale violet color is genuinely stunning. It's also a masterclass in balance: floral, tart, and complex all at once. Cheers.
Variations
Blue Moon
Replace the maraschino with ½ oz of crème de violette and omit the separate violette measure. The result is more intensely floral and a deeper blue-purple color. Add a dash of orange bitters to add complexity.
Dry Aviation
Reduce the maraschino to ¼ oz and the crème de violette to ⅛ oz, and increase the gin to 2½ oz. This version is drier and more gin-forward — better for those who find the classic too sweet. The floral note becomes a whisper rather than a shout.
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Aviation
Glass: Coupe | Difficulty: Medium | ABV: ~20%
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- ½ oz maraschino liqueur
- ¼ oz crème de violette
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds — the maraschino and crème de violette are both quite sweet and need the lemon's acidity to balance them. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. The drink should be a pale, ethereal violet — the color of a clear sky at dusk. Garnish with a brandied cherry or a single violet flower if you can find one.