The Aviation

The Aviation cocktail first appeared in the 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugo R. Ensslin. It embodies the golden age of aviation when aviators were daring pioneers and cultural icons. Its name reflects this glamorous era, capturing the thrill of air travel and the influence of aviation heroes like Howard Hughes. The drink, characterized by its gin base and pale blue hue (reminiscent of the morning sky), is a delightful twist on a classic sour. Originally crafted with crème de violette, lemon juice, and maraschino liqueur, the Aviation was later simplified by omitting crème de violette due to its scarcity, as seen in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. Today, the drink is celebrated for its perfect balance of floral, citrus, and sweet flavors, with crème de violette now more readily available.

Methodology:

Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe glass. No garnish.