There is something undoubtably luxurious about a cocktail in the color purple. The Aviation was first created in New York by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender of The Hotel Wallock and has been around for over a hundred years. The unique flowery flavor of the drink made waves with the use of Creme De Violet, a liqueur that disappeared from the market, only to reappeared in the early 2000’s and create new buzz around the classic gin cocktail.

You might be surprised to learn that making the cocktail at home is extremely simple. The four ingredients cocktail in comprised of gin for spirit, creme de violet for color, maraschino liqueur for sweetness, and lemon juice to balance the flavors.

Although Creme De Violet gives the Aviation drink its beautiful light purple-grey hue, the strong flowery flavor can be overwhelming if used in access. For this cocktail, measuring ingredients is key unless drinking a cup of soap is your thing, in which case go forth and prosper.

Since Creme De Violet was off the market for so many years, a variation of the cocktail with only three ingredients exist, but in our opinion it tastes as though an ingredient is missing. It’s the floral notes that make the Aviation the delicious purple cocktail it is known for.

Keep in mind this drink is strong, and siping it is highly recommended. The amount might not look like much in your glass, but outside of a few drops of lemon juice, this cocktail is made up of three alcoholic drinks, making the alcohol level quite high.

Aviation

Prep time

3 Minutes

Serves

1

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/4 ounce Creme De Violet
• 1/2 ounce Maraschino Liqueur
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

Into a cocktail shaker add in all of the ingredients and stir. Strain into a chilled glass, garnish, sip, and enjoy.

If you’re looking for even more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our cocktail section on the website for even more delicious drink ideas. Happy sipping!