An Aviation cocktail, with its soft lavender color, stands out among other classic cocktails for its impressive taste, made with gin, fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur and flowers.
Thus, one can get a well-balanced cocktail with an appropriate amount of components.
Even though it might be hard to obtain crème de violette, there are alternative ingredients with which one can get a great-tasting cocktail.
Here you will find all necessary components, their accurate quantities, as well as the steps needed to create a balanced Aviation cocktail.
What is an Aviation Cocktail?
Aviation Cocktail is a traditional gin drink belonging to the gin sour family that uses ingredients such as gin, fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur and crème de violette.
It is famous for its perfect blend of sweet-sour taste, mild floral undertones and light lavender color.
The recipe was introduced by Hugo Ensslin in his book Recipes for Mixed Drinks published in 1916.
As the crème de violette became rare with time, it was left out of most cocktails, leading to the original cocktail falling off the menu for several decades.
After making a comeback in the market, the classic Aviation cocktail proved very successful.
Aviation Cocktail Ingredients
The following few high-quality ingredients combine to give the Aviation cocktail its distinct color, smell, and well-balanced taste.
Gin: Serves as the base liquor with the addition of botanical flavor along with the distinct juniper taste.
Maraschino Liqueur: Supplies the cherry sweetness with the faint nutty aftertaste that pairs well with the gin.
Lemon Juice: Supplies fresh sourness that cuts through the sweetness of the cocktail.
Crème de Violette: Supplies floral aroma and pale lavender-blue coloring of the cocktail.
Aviation Cocktail Recipe (Ratios)
The classic Aviation cocktail uses a simple balance of botanicals, citrus, cherry, and floral notes.
Start with the traditional proportions below, then adjust the lemon juice for extra brightness or add a touch more maraschino liqueur if you prefer a slightly sweeter finish.
Keep crème de violette light, as too much can overpower the drink.
| Ingredients | Measurements |
| Gin | 2 oz |
| Maraschino liqueur | 1/2 oz |
| Fresh lemon juice | 3/4 oz |
| Crème de violette | 1/4 oz |
Standard Ratio: 2 : 0.5 : 0.75 : 0.25 (Gin : Maraschino : Lemon : Crème de Violette)
Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Start with the traditional proportions below, then make small adjustments until the cocktail matches your preferred balance.
How to Make an Aviation Cocktail
Putting together the perfect Aviation is dependent on only four elements: a cold glass, the proper shake, the proper strain, and speedy service before it gets warm.
First, Chill The Glass
Having a chilled glass means that the Aviation tastes fresh throughout every drink.
Place the glass in the freezer for ten minutes before you prepare your drink, or put some ice water into the glass while preparing the rest of the drink.
If you don’t do this, the drink will get warm quickly after pouring, and it won’t be as zesty and fragrant as it should be.
Simply swirling some ice water around will work too if you have limited freezer space.
Put It All in The Shaker
Pour the gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and violet liqueur right into your cocktail shaker.
This drink is not meant to be built or layered; you can throw all the components into the shaker.
Two-thirds full of ice is good enough for your shaker, as any partially melted ice from an old ice tray will simply dilute the pour before it gets into the glass.
Fresh ice makes the shaking process easier.
Shake Until Properly Chilled
Close the shaker and give it a vigorous shake for 12-15 seconds.
That may be more time than many bartenders spend shaking or stirring cocktails using only spirits, but the additional agitation is required to combine the lemon juice with the liqueurs.
A proper shake will also whip up a frothy head made from the citrus.
Wait until you hear the ice begin to make a soft rather than a rattling noise; that’s a sure indication your drink has chilled properly.
Strain and Serve
For the most elegant pouring, use a Hawthorne strainer or a fine mesh strainer, filtering out any stray ice pieces as you pour into the chilled serving glass.
This is known as a double strain, eliminating any bits of crushed ice or citrus that might have slipped past the strainer in the shaker.
Pour just under the top of the glass, and garnish immediately to ensure that the cocktail is well-chilled and fragrant when served.
Crème de Violette Substitutes for Aviation Cocktail
However, crème de violette is more available today and can be found in many fine liquor shops and alcohol stores that deliver.
Some popular choices are Rothman & Winter, The Bitter Truth, and Giffard brands, and they can all be used to make the traditional Aviation drink.
Otherwise, you can do without crème de violette or substitute it with 1/4 oz. of simple syrup, which will make the cocktail sweeter.
There are other violet-flavored liqueurs that can be used instead, although they will add an extra flavor.
However, if you omit the crème de violette, your cocktail will lose its light purple color but remain fresh and tasty.
Best Glass and Garnish
The proper glassware and garnishes will improve the visual appeal and aromas of the Aviation cocktail without altering its ingredients at all.
1. Use a Coupe or a Martini Glass: The cold coupe is the ideal vessel for the cocktail due to its broad bowl that allows you to see the light lavender hue of the drink. You can also serve your cocktail in a classic martini glass.
2. Add a Brandied Cherry or a Lemon Twist: The standard garnish is the brandied or Luxardo cherry because of its slightly sweet taste. If you want to make your cocktail more vibrant, you can add a lemon twist.
3. Pay Attention to The Presentation: Proper glassware and garnish will emphasize the elegance of your drink before even tasting it.
4. Serve Immediately While Chilled: Enjoy the Aviation cocktail as soon as it is strained. Serving it immediately preserves its chilled temperature, crisp citrus flavor, delicate floral aroma, and smooth finish.
Aviation Cocktail Variations
Even small modifications in the basic recipe can result in different flavors without changing the distinctiveness of the Aviation cocktail’s gin taste.
- Aviation & Tonic: Add tonic water at the end of preparation for a fresh drink with mild bitterness and additional carbonation.
- Mezcal Aviation: Partially or completely substitute gin with mezcal to give the cocktail a rich, smoky flavor in contrast with its citrus and floral components.
- Barrel Aged Gin Variation: Use barrel-aged gin to get vanilla, oak, and spices in your cocktail.
- Dry Aviation: Decrease the amount of maraschino liqueur and/or crème de violette in order to make a drier drink.
- Floral Aviation: Add a bit of crème de violette to highlight its floral flavor and the purple color of the drink.
Flavor Profile: What Does It Taste Like?
The Aviation is a flavorful drink with a fresh taste made up of sour citrus and botanicals from the gin.
Lemon juice makes it tart, and maraschino liqueur adds sweet, slightly cherry-and-almond-flavored tones to it.
Crème de violette introduces a delicate floral tone without making the drink too strong, thanks to the correct proportions.
It is somewhat more aromatic and has a different taste compared to a gin sour. The drink has floral notes but still does not lose its sweet-and-sour flavor.
Conclusion
The Aviation is proof that a few good ingredients, when balanced perfectly, can make a cocktail with elegant flavor and appearance that will last forever.
All you need is the right amount of fresh lemon juice, some gin, and a little crème de violette, and making this legendary cocktail yourself is not difficult at all.
You may even try the recipe if it is impossible to find all the original components, and it will be fresh and tasty.
Feel free to try it and leave a comment about your experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Gin Works Best in an Aviation Cocktail?
A mild, full-bodied London dry gin balances best. Heavily juniper-forward or citrus-forward gins can overpower the crème de violette and maraschino.
Why is My Aviation Cocktail Not Purple?
Most recipes only call for a small amount of crème de violette, so the color often reads as pale gray rather than purple. Doubling the crème de violette deepens the shade.
What is The Difference Between an Aviation and a Blue Moon Cocktail?
A Blue Moon swaps the lemon juice for orange juice and uses crème de violette instead of crème de Yvette, giving it a sweeter, less tart profile than an Aviation.
