Aviation
Ingredients
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- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice – freshly squeezed (~0.5 medium lemons)
- 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 1/4 ounce crème de violette
- 2 cups ice cubes
- maraschino cherry – for garnish
Instructions
- 1.
Place a coupe glass in the freezer to chill for at least 5 minutes.
- 2.
Add the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette to a cocktail shaker.
- 3.
Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake hard until very cold and slightly frothy, 12–15 seconds.
- 4.
Double strain into the chilled coupe, leaving the ice behind.
- 5.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
The Aviation is a crisp, floral, and tart gin sour with a pale sky-blue hue. Bright lemon juice lifts the botanicals of the gin, while maraschino liqueur brings a dry cherry note and subtle almond-like complexity. A small measure of crème de violette adds a perfumed, violet aroma and delicate color, resulting in a poised cocktail that is refreshing yet elegant.
Created in the early 20th century, the Aviation is credited to Hugo Ensslin, a New York bartender who published it in his 1916 guide. The drink largely disappeared mid-century when crème de violette became scarce, and influential printings omitted the violet component. With the liqueur’s modern return, the Aviation has been revived as a standard-bearer of the classic cocktail renaissance, showcasing pre-Prohibition balance and precision.