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This Aviation cocktail recipe brings back the 1930s classic with gin, maraschino, lemon, and a hint of crème de violette for a lavender hue and sweet tart flavor!
Here’s a classic cocktail that’s come back en vogue: the Aviation! This purple cocktail tastes as great as it looks: it’s sweet tart, with a hint of cherry and a floral nuance that come from maraschino liqueur and crème de violette!
To be honest, I avoided making this drink at home for a while because of the unique specialty ingredients. But that first sip was so intriguing that I think they’re worth the purchase! It’s a great drink for the adventurous home mixologist who doesn’t mind adding another liqueur or two to their collection (like me!).
5-Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “We have served this drink for several guests and it is always a hit!!!! Not too sweet, just nice and smooth. I’d consider the Aviator our favorite cocktail.” -Kimberly
What’s in an Aviation Cocktail?
The Aviation cocktail is a gin drink created back in the early 1900’s by a bartender at a hotel in New York City (Hotel Wallick). It’s a sour cocktail that combines gin with sweetener and citrus: it’s like a fancy spin on a gin sour. The original recipe called for a unique violet liqueur called crème de violette. But a famous cocktail book published later in 1930 omitted it.
Today, crème de violette is easier to find, so it’s typically included in the classic recipe for the drink. Here’s what you’ll need for the Aviation:
- Gin: A classic dry gin works well here: I like Malfy gin.
- Fresh lemon juice: Always use fresh-squeezed juice: never bottled!
- Maraschino liqueur: A clear cherry liqueur with subtle almond notes. Luxardo is a widely available brand.
- Crème de violette: A delicate violet liqueur that gives the Aviation its signature pale purple tint: see below!
- Luxardo cherry: For garnish: a dark red cocktail cherry with a complex flavor (also used in a Manhattan).
What Does It Taste Like?
An Aviation tastes tart and lightly sweet, similar to a gin sour, but it has subtle undertones: a floral and herbal notes from the crème de violette and a dry cherry note from the maraschino liqueur.
The Star Ingredient: Crème de Violette
Crème de violette is a specialty liqueur that’s made with violet flowers. Because this liqueur was a specialty at the time the Aviation was invented, it’s thought the drink was probably only served at elite bars. Crème de violette stopped being made entirely in the 1960’s, and it wasn’t until the resurgence of classic cocktails that it started to be made again!
The company Rothman and Winter released a Crème de violette in 2007, and since then a few more companies have joined the pack. If you’re into great cocktails like I am, consider buying a bottle as a chance to experience a cocktail that was lost to history! You can now find it at many liquor stores.
Why I Like Maraschino Liqueur
The Aviation requires yet another special ingredient you might not already have: maraschino liqueur. No, it’s not the liquid from a jar of maraschino cherries: it’s a clear, cherry flavored liqueur. The flavor is mainly dry but lightly sweet, with hints of sour cherry and almond. There are several brands of maraschino liqueur: a popular one is Luxardo (which is what I found at my local liquor store).
Luckily, lots of other great cocktails use maraschino too. A few other great classic maraschino liqueur cocktails: the Last Word (my favorite), the Martinez (so good!), the Mary Pickford, and the Hemingway Daiquiri.
Adjusting the Purple Color
The original recipe for an Aviation cocktail calls for 2 dashes of crème de violette, and most recipes call for ¼ ounce. This adds only a hint of light purple shade to the drink.
But in my opinion, if you’re going to buy a violet liqueur to make a purple drink, you might as well go all out! My version of the Aviation cocktail recipe calls for double the traditional crème de violette and maraschino liqueur, so you’ll use ½ ounce of each (equal to 1 tablespoon). This enhances the color and brings up the flavor slightly more floral, without it being overpowering.
When to Serve an Aviation Cocktail
The Aviation cocktail is a sweet tart, sophisticated classic cocktail that works anytime! Again, you’ll need two specialty ingredients, so it’s great for the adventurous home bartender. Serve it as a:
- Make it a signature drink: The purple color makes the Aviation a fun choice for a themed party or even a bridal shower.
- Pair it with food: Serve alongside a cheese board or antipasto platter for a cocktail hour.
Classic Aviation Cocktail
This Aviation cocktail recipe brings back the 1930s classic with gin, maraschino, lemon, and a hint of crème de violette for a lavender hue and sweet tart flavor!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce Maraschino liqueur
- 1/4 to 1/2 ounce crème de violette (see Notes)
- For the garnish: Luxardo cocktail cherry
Instructions
- Add the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake it until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry, if desired.
Notes
Use ½ ounce for a brighter purple drink and a stronger floral flavor; use ¼ ounce for the classic ratio and a lighter purple color.
More Sour Cocktails to Try
Sour cocktails are a family of cocktails with base liquor, sour, and sweet elements. Here are some more classics to try:
First of all, thanks for a stellar site! It has become one of my trusted places for cocktail recipes. Tonight, I finally had my first Aviation, although I went with another recipe (4, 2, 2, 0,5). Unfortunately, I was disappointed with how it turned out. Somehow, the violet was overpowered by either the lemon or the gin. I conclude that this is one of those drinks where the proportions has to be just right.
Thank you for the kind words! Yes our Aviation has a slightly larger quantity of creme de violette than most because we felt it got lost. (Looks like your ratios are for 2 drinks?) Let us know if you try our version! Thanks again for the comment: we love cocktails recipes and we are so glad to hear we’ve become your trusted source!
We have served this drink for several guests and it is always a hit!!!! Not too sweet, just nice and smooth. I’d consider the Aviator our favorite cocktail.