The Lost Cocktail
The Aviation first appeared in Hugo Ensslin's 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks. When crème de violette became unavailable in America during the mid-20th century, the cocktail lost its signature colour and faded from menus. Its revival in the 2000s, when the violet liqueur returned, was one of the great cocktail comebacks.
The Colour
A properly made Aviation should have a pale, ethereal blue-grey colour — like the sky at dusk. The crème de violette provides this, but use a light hand. Too much and the drink turns purple and tastes like soap. The 7.5ml measure is the sweet spot.
Maraschino: The Secret Weapon
Luxardo Maraschino liqueur is non-negotiable here. It's nothing like the bright-red cherry syrup you might be imagining — it's a dry, complex, slightly funky cherry liqueur that ties the whole drink together.
Getting It Right
- Chill the coupe glass — the colour shows better against cold glass
- Fine-strain to remove ice shards — clarity matters with this cocktail
- Use a Luxardo cherry, not a neon maraschino
