The Aviation is a classic gin-based cocktail, so the “gin version” is essentially the standard recipe itself. It’s a pre-Prohibition sour variation known for its floral, slightly sweet, and citrusy profile with a signature pale sky-blue or lavender hue.
History
Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at New York’s Hotel Wallick, created the Aviation in the early 20th century. It first appeared in his 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks. The original recipe includes gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette (a violet flower liqueur).
In 1930, Harry Craddock’s influential Savoy Cocktail Book omitted the hard-to-find crème de violette, leading many later recipes to drop it too. The violet liqueur largely disappeared from the U.S. market until the mid-2000s, so the simplified “gin sour with maraschino” version dominated for decades. The full original recipe regained popularity in the modern craft cocktail revival.
Ingredients
Classic Recipe (Ensslin’s Original Style)
- 2 oz (60 ml) gin — London dry gin (like Beefeater or Tanqueray) works well; some prefer a softer style like Plymouth.
- ½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz (15 ml) maraschino liqueur (Luxardo is the gold standard)
- ¼ oz (7–8 ml) crème de violette (Rothman & Winter or similar; this provides the colour and floral notes)
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients with ice until well-chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry or a lemon twist (sometimes flamed for aroma).
The drink tastes like a refined gin sour with cherry-almond sweetness from the maraschino and delicate violet/parma flower aromatics. It’s tart, aromatic, and elegant rather than overly sweet.
Variations and Notes
- Without crème de violette (Savoy-style): Just gin, lemon juice, and maraschino. It’s clearer and more cherry-forward but lacks the signature colour and floral lift.
- Modern bartenders often tweak ratios slightly for balance (e.g., a touch less maraschino or added simple syrup in some specs).
- There are occasional non-gin twists (like bourbon versions), but those are riffs, not the classic.
It’s a great cocktail for gin lovers who enjoy floral or herbal notes (similar to an Aviation Gin-branded version, though the brand came later). If you’re making it at home, crème de violette is the key “special” ingredient—start small with it, as it can dominate if overused. Cheers!
