🥃 Aviation

If you want a gin sour that is sharp, floral and pale blue, the Aviation is the classic to know. It is made from gin, maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon juice and a dash of crème de violette, which gives the drink its pale sky-blue colour. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it in “The Unforgettables”. Do not confuse the cocktail with the brand Aviation Gin, which is a separate American gin.

History. According to Difford's Guide, the cocktail was first printed in 1916 in Hugo R. Ensslin's “Recipes for Mixed Drinks”. Ensslin was head bartender at the Wallick Hotel in New York and is credited with creating the drink. The name refers to the early era of aviation and to its sky colour.

Without violette. In “The Savoy Cocktail Book” of 1930 Harry Craddock left out the crème de violette, and for a long time the Aviation was a mix of gin, lemon and maraschino. Difford's Guide notes that violette liqueur was never widely available, so bartenders often omitted it.

Composition. The IBA recipe is 45 ml gin, 15 ml maraschino liqueur, 15 ml fresh lemon juice and a bar spoon of crème de violette; everything is shaken with crushed ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass, with a maraschino cherry added if desired. In Ensslin's original the lemon juice was one third of the mix, and the maraschino and violette were two dashes each.

Why it matters to you. The sour, floral taste of the Aviation hides its strength: a portion contains 45 ml of gin plus a liqueur. The name Aviation on a gin bottle does not mean a ready-made cocktail, and the drink can be made with any gin. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.