Aviation
- 1¾ oz gin
- 1/2 oz crème de violette (Rothman & Winter)
- 1/4 oz maraschino liqueur (Luxardo)
- 3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) simple syrup (to taste)
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or a cherry.
The Aviation is another classic from the early years of the previous century. The recipe first appeared in print in New York in 1916, a time when flying machines had only been around a decade or so and were still surrounded by an air of mystique. The stunningly beautiful deep blue color of the drink hints at this mystery—or maybe it's more of a light blue that suggests the open sky.
The Aviation is simply a gin sour using lemon juice with the sugar syrup replaced by the liqueurs. (Depending on the sweetness of the fruit you may want to add a little simple syrup.) Crème de violette is none too easy to obtain. It was only reintroduced into the American market about ten years ago. The quality of the liqueur is important. It imparts a delicate floral flavor to the drink as well as the striking color. We would recommend Rothman & Winter though we can only obtain it by mail order.