an Aviation

The Aviation should not be this color. My cocktail guru and doting sweetheart was very insistent that I should include that disclaimer, and went so far as to suggest I chose another photograph of this pre-Prohibition era cocktail, because if you actually drank an Aviation that looked this one, you'd turn up your nose and frown at the inept barkeep.

With that in mind, the Aviation is really a very charming drink. Just a bit of crème di violette gives this cocktail a unique hue and a lovely floral touch, but if you can taste it, you've added too much. It's called the Aviation because it's supposed to be the same color as the sky above the clouds-now isn't that a lovely image?


The Aviation

2 oz of gin
1 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 oz of Maraschino liquor
1 tablespoon of crème di violette
1/4 oz of simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for no more than 10 seconds. Strain and serve in a cocktail glass.


Notes: Chose Plymouth or Miller's gin for this cocktail.
Maraschino liquor can be tracked down at most good package stores; look for Luxardo, which will be wrapped with woven straw.
Crème di violette is a little tricker to find, and to be honest is often omitted from this classic cocktail. If you spot it at the store, grab a bottle. If you don't, pull out the gin anyway!


Photo by Romulo Yanes for Gourmet Magazine.