The Aviation cocktail – my favourite! So named for its pale lavender hue, which is said to resemble the colour of the sky. The Aviation cocktail is a classic and delicious gin cocktail. Fruity liquors, citrus and gin are shaken together to make the perfect party cocktail recipe. You will love it!
This cocktail is a riff on a gin sour with the addition of Maraschino instead of simple syrup as a sweetener. It’s a floral, dry, delicate cocktail that all gin drinkers will like. Good for springtime and dreaming of flying off on your holidays.
It is so called because of the pale blue hue given to the drink by the Creme de Violette, celebrating the glamorous hayday of air travel.
The History
According to liquor.com, the Aviation is a classic gin cocktail dating back to the turn of the 20th century, and it first appeared in Huge Enslinn’s book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks” in 1916 while he was tending bar at New York City’s Hotel Wallick.
The Ingredients
Gin – I used Sipsmith® London Dry Gin which is one of my favourite gin brands. Choosing the right gin brand is very important when making the perfect Aviation cocktail.
Crème de violette liqueur – a springtime floral touch of velvety and fruity violet flavour!
Maraschino liqueur – the classic cherry liqueur made through infusion, distillation and then aging. Each bottle takes 4 years to make.
Maraschino cherries – are preserved, sweetened cherries, typically made from light-coloured sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. The name maraschino originates from the Marasca cherry of Croatian origin and the maraschino liqueur made from it, in which Marasca cherries were crushed and preserved after being pickled.
Must try cocktail: Dirty Martini
The Recipe
Toss all ingredients except the maraschino cherries in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice cubes and shake well until chilled.
Then strain into chilled cocktail glasses. I used classic coupe cocktail glasses. Garnish each cocktail with a Maraschino cherry and a ¼ slice of lemon. Cheers!
“Cocktails are society’s most enduring invention.”
Elsa Maxwell
Aviation Cocktail
Equipment
- Shaker
Ingredients
- 120 ml Sipsmith® London Dry Gin
- 40 ml Fresh lemon juice
- 30 ml Crème de violette liqueur
- 30 ml Maraschino liqueur
- 2 Maraschino cherries
- 1 Slice of lemon optional
Instructions
- Toss all ingredients except the maraschino cherries in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice cubes and shake well until chilled.
- Then strain into chilled cocktail glasses. I used classic coupe cocktail glasses. Garnish each cocktail with a Maraschino cherry and a ¼ slice of lemon.
- Cheers!