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Cocktail History
The Aviation is a classic cocktail that was created by Hugo Ensslin in the early 1900s while he was the head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, New York. It’s most well-known for its color and a special ingredient that was impossible to find for close to half a century before it was just reintroduced back in 2007—crème de violette. The recipe pairs this floral liqueur with botanical gin, maraschino cherry liqueur, and tart lemon.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a type of gin made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Citadelle Gin because it has simple and crisp juniper flavor with notes of violet root, angelica, lemon peel, and baking spices. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Maraschino Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Maraschino cherries, honey, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We used Luxardo Maraschino Orginale Liqueur because it has a distinct earthy aroma and sweet cherry flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Trader Vic’s Premium Maraschino Cherry Syrup in place of the cherry liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Crème De Violette: This is a liqueur made with violets, sugar, and alcohol. We used Rothman & Winter Crème De Violette Liqueur because it’s made with a brandy base and no added vanilla or other fruit flavors, making it a true violet liqueur. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Violet Syrup in place of the violet liqueur.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. We used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries because they’re high quality and delicious.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-07.
Tasting Notes
The Aviation features light floral aromas, the initial taste of gin balanced by the maraschino and violet liqueurs, and a tart but botanical finish.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This drink is wildly popular, among those with less developed palates especially, for a reason. It is quite good! It was a little sweet for Alex although he certainly appreciated its complexity, but Kendall found the Aviation to be delicious, and it has since become one of her favorite gin drinks.
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-07.
Aviation
The Aviation is a classic cocktail that was created by Hugo Ensslin in the early 1900s while he was the head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, New York. It’s most well-known for its color and a special ingredient that was impossible to find for close to half a century before it was just reintroduced back in 2007—crème de violette. The recipe pairs this floral liqueur with botanical gin, maraschino cherry liqueur, and tart lemon.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, crème de violette, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with cherry.
