Name: Aviation
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients: 2 oz London Dry Gin; 0.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur; 0.25 oz Crème de Violette; 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Everything You Need To Know About The Aviation

Born in 1916 at New York’s Hotel Wallick, the Aviation was designed by Hugo Ensslin as a liquid tribute to the dawning age of flight, functioning as a floral evolution of the classic sour family. While the crisp dry gin and tart lemon provide the structure, the drink's soul lies in its dual sweeteners: the earthy, cherry-pit funk of maraschino liqueur and the elusive crème de violette. For decades, the cocktail was effectively "grounded" after the influential The Savoy Cocktail Book omitted the violet liqueur, leaving the drink a pale, grey shadow of its former self for nearly seventy years. It wasn't until the craft cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s that the floral component was rediscovered, finally restoring this pre-prohibition relic to its original, sky-blue altitude.

Aviation

Prep Time5 min

Yield1 Cocktail

Base SpiritGin

Ingredients

2 oz London Dry Gin
0.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur
0.25 oz Crème de Violette
0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Fly Away To Cocktail Heaven With The Aviation

Instructions

Add gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake well until thoroughly chilled (about 15-20 seconds).
Strain mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a brandied cherry or a lemon twist.

Pro Tip

For the best Aviation, use fresh lemon juice and quality liqueurs. The amount of crème de violette can be adjusted to taste, or omitted entirely if preferred (resulting in a clearer cocktail, sometimes called an "Aviation without sky"). The double straining ensures a smooth texture.

Aviation Riff

Some modern interpretations increase the lemon juice for a tarter profile or adjust the maraschino liqueur amount. Experimenting with different styles of gin can also subtly change the drink's character.