Aviation
Gin, maraschino and crème de violette with lemon. A pale sky-blue sour first printed in 1916.
Shaken · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 23% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Gin
- 15 ml Maraschino liqueur
- 7.5 ml Crème de violette
- 15 ml Fresh lemon juice
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml gin into the shaker
- Pour 15 ml maraschino liqueur into the shaker
- Pour 7.5 ml crème de violette into the shaker
- Add 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
Go light on the violette. Too much tastes like soap.
About the Aviation
Created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, and printed in his 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks. Its pale sky-blue colour from crème de violette is a nod to the new age of flight. When the Savoy Cocktail Book left out the violette in 1930, the drink lost its colour, and crème de violette all but disappeared from the market until it was reintroduced in 2007.
The sour family. Sours are one of the oldest mixed-drink families. Spirit, citrus and sugar go back to the punches British sailors and traders drank in the 1600s and 1700s, and Jerry Thomas printed sour recipes in the first American bartending book in 1862. Egg white came later, for a silky foam. Almost every classic with fresh citrus, from the Daiquiri to the Whiskey Sour, follows this pattern.
Aviation FAQ
What's in an Aviation?
45 ml gin, 15 ml maraschino liqueur, 7.5 ml crème de violette, 15 ml fresh lemon juice, garnished with cocktail cherry.
How strong is an Aviation?
About 23% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir an Aviation?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve an Aviation in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
