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    Home » Recipes » Drinks » Aviation Cocktail

    Aviation Cocktail

    Published: February 15, 2022 · Modified: Oct 1, 2022 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    Made with gin, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette, this gorgeous Aviation Cocktail is a classic cocktail from the early 1900s. It’s sweet and tart with an iconic pale lavender coloring. It’s as pretty as it is delicious.

    Two glasses of Aviation cocktail with lemon twist garnish by the bottles of liqueur in the back.
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    Pinterest graphic of an overhead view of two glasses of Aviation cocktails with a cocktail cherry garnish.
    Pinterest graphic of two glasses of Aviation cocktails with cherry garnishes.
    Pinterest graphic of glasses of Aviation cocktails with lemon twist garnish.
    Pinterest graphic of an overhead view of two Aviation cocktails with lemon twist garnishes.
    Pinterest graphic of a glass of Aviation cocktail in front of another and bottles of liqueur.

    All you need are four ingredients to make this beautiful Aviation cocktail. This lavender, blue-hued drink is an eye-catching cocktail that tastes as delicious as it looks. It’s worth picking up a bottle of crème de violette to make this cocktail. Citrusy, sweet but tart, with hints of cherry and floral notes, you’ll love this cocktail. It’s a stunning drink that will impress your guests. If you need another cocktail for a party, try my French 75 recipe, classic martini recipe, or paloma recipe.

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients needed to make an Aviation cocktail.

    Crème de violette — also known as liqueur de violette, this liqueur is made from and tastes like violets, giving it its classic blue coloring that gives the drink its pale lavender color. The floral liqueur provides the cocktail with its signature taste and separates it from a gin sour.

    Gin — it’s best to pick a good quality gin as the base of this cocktail. The citrus and coriander from the gin used here really complement the flowery and sweet violet flavors from the crème de violette.

    Maraschino liqueur — this is a clear liqueur that’s dry, silky, and sweet, with hints of sour cherry and almond.

    How to Make an Aviation Cocktail

    Set of two photos showing liquid added a shaker, then shaken to combine.

    1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, lemon juice, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur. Fill with ice.

    2. Shake until very cold, about 15 seconds.

    Set of two photos showing drink strained into a glass and garnished.

    3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    4. Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.

    Overhead view of two glasses of Aviation cocktail with cocktail cherry garnish.

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Avoid adding crushed ice to the shaker as the ice will melt quicker and water down the cocktail.
    • Use fresh lemon juice and not bottled lemon juice as it tastes much more bright and fresh. Get the most juice out of your lemon by bringing it to room temperature before juicing it. Rolling the lemon on the counter under your hand prior to juicing loosens the juice as well.
    • It’s much easier to slice the lemon peel to make the lemon twist for the garnish before juicing it.
    • If you’re not confident that you’ll slice a thin enough lemon peel for your cocktail’s garnish with a knife, you can use a vegetable peeler.
    • Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid and strain the drink through a fine-mesh sieve.
    • If you cannot find crème de violette, you can use Crème Yvette in its place.

    Two glasses of Aviation cocktail with cocktail cherry garnishes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is this cocktail called Aviation?

    The aviation cocktail got its name thanks to the pale sky-blue color that the crème de violette imparts on it.

    What is the origin of the drink?

    This pre-Prohibition cocktail is said to have been created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at New York City’s Hotel Wallick in the early 1900s. Early on, bartenders would omit crème de violette from the drink due to it being a rare specialty item. It wasn’t until this classic cocktail made a comeback that more companies started making their own crème de violette.

    What does crème de violette taste like?

    Crème de violette has sweet floral notes and tastes similar to violet candies, popular in Europe during the 19th century.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

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    If you’ve tried this Aviation Cocktail recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Two Aviation cocktails with lemon twist garnishes.
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    5 from 3 votes

    Aviation Cocktail

    Sweet and tart, this beautiful Aviation Cocktail tastes as delicious as it looks!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 0 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1 serving
    Calories 137kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker
    • Jigger or measuring cup
    • Coupe glass

    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces gin
    • ½ ounce lemon juice
    • ½ ounce crème de violette
    • ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
    • Lemon twist or cocktail cherry

    Instructions

    • In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, lemon juice, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur. Fill with ice. Shake until very cold, about 15 seconds.
    • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.

    Notes

    • Avoid adding crushed ice to the shaker as the ice will melt quicker and water down the cocktail.
    • Use fresh lemon juice and not bottled lemon juice as it tastes much more bright and fresh. Get the most juice out of your lemon by bringing it to room temperature before juicing it. Rolling the lemon on the counter beforehand loosens the juice as well.
    • It’s much easier to slice the lemon peel to make the lemon twist for the garnish before juicing it.
    • If you’re not confident that you’ll slice a thin enough lemon peel for your cocktail’s garnish with a knife, you can use a vegetable peeler.
    • Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid and strain the drink through a fine-mesh sieve.
    • If you cannot find crème de violette, you can use Crème Yvette in its place.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 250mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
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    Welcome to Preppy Kitchen!

    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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