The Aviation Cocktail is made with crème de violette, has a vibrant lavender hue, and is sweet, tart, and lemony. This drink is beautiful to serve whenever you’re looking for a colorful cocktail.
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
Shake the cocktail well. Shaking the ingredients with ice cubes not only combines them well but also chills the drink, so shake this drink for several seconds before straining into your favorite cocktail glass.
Chill your glass ahead of time. To help keep the aviation gin drink cold as you sip it, chill your glass ahead of time, for at least 15 minutes in the freezer or 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Use a vegetable peeler for the perfect twist. Before cutting and juicing the lemon, use a vegetable peeler to make the lemon twist garnish. The peeler will give you a nice thin slice. It’s easier to work with the lemon peel while the fruit is whole, instead of trying to zest juiced halves.
Choose glassware that shows off the drink. One of the notable things about the aviator drink is its color. I recommend using clear barware for serving so your guests can appreciate the sky-like hue.
Store crème de violette with other liquor. This liqueur does not contain cream, so it does not require refrigeration and can be stored in a cool, dry location with your other liquor.