• Gin
  60 ml (2 oz)

  A London Dry or floral gin works best
• Maraschino liqueur
  15 ml (0.5 oz)

  Luxardo is the classic brand
• Crème de violette
  10 ml (0.25 oz)

  Adds color and floral notes
• Fresh lemon juice
  25 ml (0.75 oz)

  Freshly squeezed for best flavor
• Ice
  1 cup

  For shaking

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Fine mesh strainer
• Hawthorne strainer
• Coupe or martini glass

1. 1

   Chill your coupe or martini glass by filling it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail.

2. 2

   Add gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.

3. 3

   Fill the shaker with ice, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled.

4. 4

   Discard the ice water from your glass.

5. 5

   Double strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer into the chilled glass to ensure a silky-smooth pour.

6. 6

   Garnish and serve immediately.

• Its striking, sky-blue color is visually stunning and unique.
• The delicate floral and citrus flavors are perfectly balanced.
• It's a conversation starter with a storied history.
• The Aviation is both refreshing and complex—never boring!
• It's a rare treat for fans of vintage cocktails.

The Aviation first appeared in print in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 "Recipes for Mixed Drinks." At the time, the cocktail world was just starting to embrace more creative, color-driven beverages. The original recipe featured crème de violette, a violet-flavored liqueur that gives the drink its signature sky-blue tint. However, for decades, crème de violette was hard to find, and many recipes omitted it, resulting in a more citrus-forward cocktail. In recent years, the resurgence of classic cocktails and the reintroduction of crème de violette have brought the Aviation back to its original, ethereal glory.