The Original Aviation
Since I first tried the Aviation it has rapidly become one of my favourite cocktails. I love the subtle cherry flavour the Maraschino provides, and the way the flavours balance to create such a crisp, enjoyable drink. However, I’ve always longed to make one using the original recipe, but couldn’t because I didn’t have any Crème de Violette.
Crème de Violette is a deep lavender coloured liqueur that uses Violet flowers to obtain its rather unique taste. Think Parma Violets and you are sort of on the right track. It is notoriously difficult to get hold of but thankfully my new home, London, has several great alcohol shops which stock all manner of wonderful products, including Crème de Violette.
Aviation (Original)
- 2 shots gin
- ½ shot lemon juice
- ⅓ shot Maraschino
- ⅙ shot Crème de Violette
- Shake well with ice and fine strain in to a cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
The Crème de Violette adds a very subtle blue hue to the Aviation, so subtle in fact that it is difficult to see in the photo – it looks good in real life though. The taste it provides is also subtle, but definitely provides an interesting extra layer of flavour. It blends well with the Maraschino, producing a funky floral undertone to the gin base. Overall, a small but tasty improvement to an already great cocktail. I wouldn’t say Crème de Violette is essential to the Aviation, but it’s definitely a nice addition.
This drink was also a great way to try out my new home-made Maraschino cherries, which I made using the method Gabriel described recently. They are absolutely delicious, and so much better than the bright red artificial cherries you can buy in the store. I never really used to eat the cherries at the end of the drink, as they were so sickly sweet, but now I look forward to finishing the drink and getting to the cherry!
Posted in Crème de Violette, Gin, Lemon, Maraschino, Recipes
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August 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
[...] The Original Aviation … [Oh Gosh!] [...]
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I just got my hands on some Crème de Violette this weekend and have been revisiting the Aviation. When I first started trying out this cocktail thing (very recently I might add) the Aviation was a drink that greatly appealed to me. It had the dual pleasure of being both classic and somewhat obscure (but by and large a favorite amongst the internet cocktail crowd).
My first attempts (Plymouth/Luxardo) yielded a very complex drink but nothing that I was expecting. For all the comments and history I had unintentionally inflated the drink in my mind so when I took that first sip I’ll have to be honest and say I was disappointed.
But after procuring some CdV, tweaking my ratios, straining my lemon juice, and using a different brand of Maraschino I have finally made an Aviation worthy of what I had hoped it would be.
That faint blue tint to the drink really helps, it’s gorgeous really….
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:51 am
The colour is lovely isn’t it? I’m glad you’re enjoying your Aviations now. Personally even sans-violette I think it’s a great drink, but it’s interesting that several people have noted it hasn’t lived up to the hype lately. I’d be interested to hear what your preferred ratio is, and what brand of Maraschino you have been using.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I’m stilling messing around with recipes but one that has yielded the best Aviations to date is:
2oz Gin
1/2oz Lemon Juice
2tsp. Maraska Maraschino
1tsp. Creme De Violette
August 31st, 2007 at 5:27 pm
[...] Darcy gives a contrarian view of the ‘Aviation Cocktail’ and Jay tries the original (with Creme de Violette), and still loves it with ‘The Original Aviation’ [...]
November 29th, 2007 at 7:23 am
[...] You would probably think that after BevMo! I didn’t need to go anywhere else. But no, it didn’t even stop there. I was having trouble finding some Stroh 80 and found a lead online stating that Wally’s Wine and Spirits might have a bottle. So off I went, hoping to get there before they closed at 7:30 and wondering what else I would find there. I have to tell you, that place is amazing. Not only is their wine selection top notch (if a little pricey because they’re more a high-end specialty shop), but their spirits collection ranges from the mundane (Smirnoff anyone?) to the exotic (I finally found a bottle of Crème de Violette to make a proper Aviation!). [...]
September 12th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
My take , and I too just got my creme de violette recently, calls for a little restraint. I’ll give ratios in a moment, but a few notes first. 1. If you are going to share an aviation recipe, name your liquors. The gin makes a huge difference as does the maraschino and creme. 2. Always adjust for your taste if you are making it for youself, this is just what I prefer. That said here is what I do…
Perry’s Aviaton
2 oz Hendricks (I typically have Beefeater on hand but had this and it worked great)
1/4 oz Luxardo maraschino
1/4 oz Rothman & Winter Creme de violette (odd note on nose but all I can find)
1/4 oz lemon juice (strained if you are in the mood)
1 dash Grapefruit bitters
Shake and strain into a chilled glass
Garnish as you like (cherry, blackberry, lemon peel, or go commando)
I haven’t gone back with these proportions to Beefeater, but imagine it will have more of a juniper punch which may not be desirable.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
[...] you’ve seen how not to make a cocktail, here’s Jacob mixing us a proper drink called an Aviation. This violet-flavored drink was awesome and we do recommend [...]
April 16th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I love this!
I love it love it love it!
perhaps too much!
anyway! Just wanted to point out that no one, EVER! should have one of these down Mahiki in london!
I ended up having an argument with the barkeeps about what goes in it (they claimed there should be no creme de vi… and about 2 YES 2! shots of lemon juice!
I ended up getting them to look it up in one of their “antique” cocktail books where the recepie asked for what I said!
Still didn’t make it properly….. I did get it for free though after betting with them that I was right!
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Firstly allow me to congratulate you on a great website.
I have a question regarding the Creme de Violette. I have seen several recipies of the Aviation some calling for a Creme de Violette and some for a Violette Liqueur. My first question is if there is a difference between the two? I always assumed not, but thought I would ask just in case.
Also I have always used Liqueur de Violette from the Emile Pernot Distillery, purchased from Liqueurs de France (where I also get my absinthe). I have recently noticed that The Bitter Truth also offers a Creme de Violette. Have you tired this? And if so how does it fair in an Aviation?
Finally, as I gather you are based in Europe, as am I, and I was wondering you have any reccomendations for good online spirit shops/stores that deliver in the EU? I use TheWhiskeyExchange and TheDrinkShop which have proven good but not great (not an endorsement of any kind), for one they for example dont cary Wild Turkey Russells Reserve Rye (which I really want to try), or good Piscos, to name a few. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
May 4th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Anon – Crème de Violette is the same as violet liqueur, it’s simply the French name which is commonly used. I’m afraid I’ve not tried the Emile Pernot Liqueur de Violette. I have tried the Bitter Truth one – I’ll be doing a full review of their new liqueurs soon but in short their version is quite dry, and very subtle. My favourite is probably the G. Miclo violette which is sold at Gerry’s amongst other places.
As for mail order, living in London I’m lucky that I don’t need to often, but I would definitely take a look at Drinkology. It’s based in Germany and ran by Stephan Berg, who is one of the men behind The Bitter Truth. They have a great selection of stuff not easily available in Europe, flat-rate shipping and orders I’ve made have always been quick to arrive. Hope that helps.
May 4th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Jay – Thank you for the tip on the online shops. Drinkology certainly has some very interesting rums and some other scarce spirits, and some things are cheaper than anywhere I have seen (like the Tanq. 10). Once again thank you for the recomendation.
Oh yes, regarding the Emile Pernot Liqueur de Violette: I cant compare it to anything alse, I can say however that it does have a distinct violet taste, without tasting like grandmothers perfume. I will be looking forward to yout review of The Bitter Truth liqueurs.
July 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Well, interestingly, I have just tried the original aviator several times and come up with my own ratios, but that is clearly due to differences in brands of liquor used. I am not a huge fan of Gin’s juniper taste, so have found my favorite gin to be Leopold Bros. American Gin, which has strong notes of lemon and orange over any hints of juniper. It also is suprisingly sweet for a gin. That being said, I did manage to arrive at cocktail nirvana with the following ratios:
2 1/2 oz Leopold Bros. Small Batch Gin
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Luxardo Marachino Liqueur
1/2 oz R & W Creme De Violette
While this tasted tremendous, I am thinking of backing off of the Marachino slightly due to the sweetness of the Gin I am starting with. The end product tended to be a touch sweeter than I think I want. I may also up the lemon juice especially if using a Gin that has less of a lemon overtone than the Leopold Bros.
Just a fantastic cocktail, however. Creme De Violete is very tasty I must say. Now to try the moonlight cocktail.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:24 am
I find the Aviation without the créme de violette a good, but unexceptional, cocktail; but add the violette and it becomes simply wonderful–a subtle and complex drink with depth.