Three Ways To Make An Aviation

The Aviation is a classic cocktail with a gin base. First invented in New York in the early twentieth century, it has become widely adored. The head bartender at the Wallick Hotel, Hugo Ensslin, first published this recipe in 1916. 

Its ingredients consist of gin, lemon juice, maraschino liquor, and crème de violet. Served straight up in a martini glass, it looks and sounds like a classy drink. The purple hue of the drink makes it look other-worldly. It is certainly a drink that would hit the spot if you are looking for a strong, floral experience. 

As with all classic cocktails, a few modern twists have materialized since its release. We will lay out how to make an aviation cocktail the classic way, and with 2 adaptations.

Later, we will reveal one of our own aviation cocktail recipes. We always recommend a dry gin so as not to dampen the impact of the other ingredients. This is not a drink to be had at any old dive bar or pub, so pick your watering hole wisely.

1. Classic Aviation

This is the original recipe published in 1916. It is truly a majestic-looking and tasting beverage. 

Ingredients:

1 ½ ounces dry gin
¾ ounces lemon juice
2 dashes maraschino liquer
2 dashes créme de violet
Maraschino cherry (for garnish)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake. Strain through a sieve into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

2. Moonlight Cocktail

This slight variation was invented by the bartender and author Gary Regan. A few alterations to the classic create a more citrus-forward, tangy drink. It still has the majestic look of the classic, with slightly easier-to-find ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 ½ ounces dry gin
½ ounce Cointreau
½ ounce Créme De Violet
½ ounce lime juice
Orange twist (for garnish)

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake. Strain through a sieve into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

3. Aviation in Bloom

A Country Wine and Spirits original creation. Substituting the créme de violette with a rose aperetif. This provides a beautiful pink hue to the beverage. We have chosen Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin specifically for its botanical contents, which pair perfectly with the other ingredients. The sour cherry gin provides a little bit of complexity to the drink.

Ingredients:

1 ½ ounces of Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin
½ ounce Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin
½ ounce of Lillet Rose French Aperitif
½ ounce of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake. Strain through a sieve into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

There are our best recommendations of aviation cocktail recipes. We hope you learned how to make an aviation cocktail and a little bit about this lesser-known classic. It is our recommendation for a warm summer night. Best enjoyed in the ambiance of a speak-easy style, or hotel bar.