Aviation
Gin, lemon, maraschino and a touch of violet liqueur. Tart, floral and pale lilac-grey in the glass.
- MethodShaken
- GlassCoupe
- IceNone (served up)
- Strengthabout 19.1% ABV
- BaseGin
- Tastesour, fruity, herbal
Recipe
| 60 ml 2 oz | London dry gin |
| 15 ml ½ oz | Maraschino liqueur |
| 7.5 ml ¼ oz | Crème de violette |
| 22.5 ml ¾ oz | Fresh lemon juice |
Garnish. A single dark cocktail cherry dropped in the glass.
Method
- Chill a coupe.
- Shake the gin, maraschino, crème de violette and lemon juice hard with ice for 12 to 15 seconds.
- Double strain into the coupe.
- Drop in the cherry.
About the Aviation
The Aviation is a gin sour sweetened with maraschino, the dry, nutty cherry liqueur, and tinted with a little crème de violette. It is sharp and clean with a floral finish. Too much violette makes it taste of perfume and soap, so measure it carefully.
History
Earliest record 1916: Hugo Ensslin, Recipes for Mixed Drinks, New York
Documented
The earliest known printed recipe is in Hugo Ensslin's Recipes for Mixed Drinks (New York, 1916); Ensslin was head bartender at the Hotel Wallick. His version included crème de violette. The Savoy Cocktail Book (London, 1930) printed it without the violette, and that simpler gin, maraschino and lemon form became the common one for most of the century. With crème de violette scarce for decades, the original recipe only came back after the liqueur returned to the American market in 2007.
Legend and lore
The name is usually linked to the excitement over early flight, which is plausible for 1916 but not recorded by Ensslin.
Variations
- Savoy Aviation. No crème de violette: gin, maraschino and lemon only. Sharper and colourless.
- Last Word. Another maraschino-led gin sour from the same years, with green Chartreuse and lime.
- Blue Moon. Gin, lemon and violet liqueur without maraschino.
Bartender's notes
- Maraschino liqueur is clear and dry; do not use the red syrup from a jar of cherries.
- If the drink is grey rather than lilac, that is normal. The colour depends on the violette brand.
