Aviation

The Aviation has a floral, citrus, delicate, aromatic flavor profile. A classic gin cocktail with a beautiful violet hue from crème de violette.

A Aviation requires 5 ingredients: Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Creme de Violette, Fresh Lemon Juice, Maraschino Cherry.

A Aviation takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered easy difficulty.

A Aviation is traditionally served in a Coupe, garnished with Brandied cherry.

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Aviation by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Aviation was created around 1916 by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, and published in his book 'Recipes for Mixed Drinks.' Named during the exciting early days of aviation when pilots were celebrated as daredevil heroes, the cocktail embodied the era's spirit of innovation and adventure. The drink's original recipe called for equal parts gin, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette with lemon juice, creating a much more floral-forward cocktail than today's balanced version. The Aviation nearly vanished during Prohibition and remained largely forgotten for decades afterward, primarily because crème de violette disappeared from American markets. When bartender Murray Stenson began serving it at Seattle's Zig Zag Café in the early 2000s using the more balanced proportions we know today, it sparked a revival. The cocktail's resurrection coincided with the craft cocktail renaissance, and it became a symbol of the movement's dedication to reviving forgotten classics. Today's Aviation typically uses less crème de violette than the original, allowing the gin and maraschino to shine while the violet liqueur provides its signature color and subtle floral notes.