The Aviation is the cocktail equivalent of a well-kept secret. Pale, floral and faintly lavender-tinted, it looks unlike almost anything else behind a bar, and most people who try it for the first time have no idea what they are drinking until you tell them. It is elegant without trying too hard, and it rewards anyone willing to track down its one unusual ingredient.
I love serving this one to people who think they have tried every gin cocktail going. Here is how I build it, and why the amount of crème de violette matters more than any other measure in the glass.
What Is an Aviation?
An Aviation is a pale, floral gin cocktail made from gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served straight up in a chilled coupe. It first appeared in print in a New York bartending guide in 1916, named, most likely, for the pale sky-blue colour the violette gives it. It fell out of circulation for decades when crème de violette became hard to find, before a revival brought both the drink and the ingredient back into fashion.
The gin provides the backbone, the maraschino liqueur brings a delicate cherry sweetness, and the crème de violette gives the drink its signature floral note and that famous pale lavender hue. Fresh lemon juice keeps the whole thing sharp enough that it never tips into being merely perfumed.
Ingredients
This makes one Aviation. Use the card to scale it up, though it shakes best a couple at a time.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
Crème de violette is the ingredient that makes this drink what it is, and the amount matters enormously. Use too much and the whole thing tastes like soap or perfume, use the right amount and it is simply floral and intriguing. Crème Yvette is a similar alternative if you cannot find violette, though the flavour shifts slightly towards berry.
Maraschino liqueur is a delicate, dry cherry liqueur, quite different from the sweet syrup cherries come in. Luxardo is the classic and most widely available brand. It adds a subtle sweetness and depth without ever tasting overtly of cherry.
Fresh lemon juice is what keeps the whole drink from becoming too soft and floral. It is a small measure, but it does real work holding the balance together. Bottled juice will flatten the entire effect.
Gin needs to be clean enough to let the other three ingredients speak, but present enough to give the drink some backbone. A classic London dry is the safest choice, though a slightly more citrus-forward gin also works nicely.
Variations Worth Trying
- Blue Moon: swap the maraschino liqueur for extra crème de violette for a more intensely floral, deeper blue drink.
- Aviation No. 2: leave out the crème de violette entirely for the earlier, less floral version of the recipe.
- Sparkling Aviation: top with a splash of prosecco for a lighter, more celebratory serve.
- Lavender Aviation: add a small dash of lavender syrup alongside the violette for extra floral depth.
Skip the Mixing
The Aviation is a genuine treat to make once you have tracked down the crème de violette, and that hunt is half the fun. It does mean sourcing a slightly unusual bottle and getting the measures just right though, which is more of a project than most evenings call for. When you want something that feels equally special with nothing to shake, our Pornstar Martini brings its own sense of occasion, and the wider Boozy range is right here too.
Aviation FAQs
What is in an Aviation?
Gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served straight up. The crème de violette gives it a pale lavender colour and floral note.
What does an Aviation taste like?
Floral, delicate and subtly sweet from the maraschino, with fresh lemon keeping everything sharp. It is unusual without being difficult to drink.
Can you make an Aviation without crème de violette?
You can, and it becomes what is sometimes called an Aviation No. 2, a Gin Sour with maraschino liqueur. It loses the floral character and the signature colour, but it is still a good drink.
What gives an Aviation its colour?
Crème de violette, a violet flower liqueur, gives the drink its pale sky-blue to lavender hue. The amount used has to be judged carefully, since too much turns the drink overly perfumed.
What is the best gin for an Aviation?
A classic London dry gin works well, offering enough structure to support the maraschino and violette without disappearing behind them.
