Aviation Cocktail

Aviation is hard to resist: it’s delicious, has a great pedigree and is also right, Yes, really pretty much.

This once-forgotten classic has made quite a comeback in the last decade, mostly in chic cocktail bars. But it’s easy to make at home provided you’re willing to scout down the right ingredients!

The early 2000s marked the beginning of the so-called cocktail renaissance, as American cocktail connoisseurs sought to rediscover pre-prohibition cocktail recipes that had been lost over time. One of them was aviation.

The first popular Aviation recipes consisted of just three ingredients: gin, maraschino liqueur and lemon juice. This corresponds to the formula of a sour – base liquor, a sweet ingredient and a sour ingredient – ​​with maraschino as the sweet ingredient.

But then Another Aviation recipe has been discovered, with a mysterious fourth ingredient: Creme de violet.

What is Creme de Violette?

Crème de Violette is a liqueur made from (and tastes like) violets. Depending on where you live, tracking down Crème de Violette can prove to be a challenge. Until 2007, there was no way to buy crème de violette in the United States. But then Haus Alpenz began importing Rothman & Winter’s Crème de Violette, and Aviation’s popularity exploded.

For a long time, this crème de violette from Rothman & Winter was the only option available; now there are a few others, including the Giffard Crème de Violette. Look for Crème de Violette at a larger liquor store or specialty store in the area for liqueurs and liqueurs. In a pinch, you can substitute Crème Yvette, although the final cocktail color will be slightly different.

Is it really important for the drink? Yes. This floral liqueur puts a new twist on what would otherwise be a gin sour. The Aviation is a fresh, bright and lively gin cocktail, but the floral notes of crème de violette make it unique and unforgettable, giving it that beautiful pale lavender colour.

Which Maraschino Liqueur Should I Use?

If you’re lucky enough to find a bottle of Crème de Violette, chances are the retailer also stocks Maraschino liqueur, the other key ingredient in an Aviation. Smelling a bit like cherries, a bit like almonds, and a bit like forgotten things, maraschino features in many classic cocktail recipes, most notably The Last Word. Consider it your ticket to the world of classic cocktails!

The Luxardo Maraschino is by far the easiest to find and the one I use in all my cocktails. You’ll find it in the distinctive straw-wrapped green bottle. Other brands, like Maraska and Lazzaroni, are less common but just as nice (and a little less expensive).

Not sure about the specialty liqueurs?

If they’re not already part of your arsenal, acquiring Crème de Violette and Maraschino Liqueur can seem like a big deal. If you’re hesitant, I recommend ordering an Aviation at a bar first to see if it’s a drink you really like. But in my opinion it’s worth it; A truly beautiful and unique drink, the Aviation is sure to take your cocktail night to the next level.

Which gin should I use?

You don’t need a particularly fancy gin to make a decent Aviation: any mid-priced London Dry-style gin will do. I like Broker’s – it’s been my favorite gin for a long time and is usually around $20 a bottle.

That being said, a very nice gin can really improve your aviation (see what I did there?). For a real treat, try Nolet’s Silver Gin with notes of rose and white peach. It harmonizes wonderfully with the other liqueurs.

What is this bright purple color all about?

Do a Google search for “aviation cocktail” and you’ll see plenty of photos of drinks that are a bright, vibrant purple. Unfortunately this is wrong.

If you make an Aviation with the right proportions and shake it properly, you’ll end up with a drink that’s blue-grey (or pale lavender) rather than light purple. It’s the color of the sky at dusk that is said to have inspired the drink’s name.

Hey, I love the idea of ​​a light purple cocktail, but to achieve that you would need to add enough Crème de Violette to make your drink taste like it was stung by a bar of soap.

More fancy cocktails to enjoy

• Blood Orange French 75 Cocktail
• Locust Cocktail
• Blueberry Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
• Hemingway Daiquiri
• Vodka martini