An Aviation co*cktail Is a Celebration of Gin and Créme de Violette (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the Aviation co*cktail? ›

The aviation is a co*cktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and lemon juice. Some recipes omit the crème de violette. It is served straight up, in a co*cktail glass.

What Gin works best in an Aviation? If you like the floral nature of the drink (and probably go a little heavy on the Violette as a result), try the likes of Cotswolds Gin with its huge lavender and grapefruit top notes, or Brooklyn Gin that combines similar floral tones with a medley of citrus.

Though it largely follows the template of a classic gin sour — gin and lemon juice balanced by sugar, the latter in the form of maraschino liqueur — the drink's signature color and flavor comes from crème de violette, or violet liqueur.

The co*cktail was invented in the early years of the 20th century and first showed up in a 1916 co*cktail book called Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugh Enslinn of the Hotel Wallick in New York City. That was just in time for glass upon glass of Aviations to be knocked back throughout Prohibition and for years after.

Made from a maceration of violets steeped in brandy with added sugars, Crème de Violette was produced in Europe as early as the beginning of the 19^th century, in an era when people clamored for violet-scented candies and sweets.

The Aviation is a classic gin co*cktail dating back to the turn of the 20th century, and it first appeared in Huge Enslinn's book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks” in 1916 while he was tending bar at New York City's Hotel Wallick.

The Aviation is hard to resist: It's tasty, has a great pedigree, and is also really, really pretty. This once-forgotten classic has made quite a comeback in the past decade or so, mostly at fancy co*cktail bars. But it's easy to make at home, provided you're willing to track down the right ingredients!

One of the most popular types of gin on the market today is Empress Gin or Empress 1908, as the brand calls it. It is a purple, color-changing gin that has taken the co*cktail-making world by storm.

Daisies (e.g., Whiskey Daisy, Gin Daisy)

Daisies are a category of co*cktail that includes a base spirit (gin or whiskey), citrus (lemon or lime) juice, and a sweetener. Daisies are refreshing, so they provide a similar experience to that of an Aviation.

The director insisted that certain portions of the film be color-adjusted to simulate faulty film processes of the past, such as the golfing scene in which the grass has an extremely blue cast and in which the adjustments were far too extreme.

Why is it called an Aviation? ›

So named due to the crème de violette giving the co*cktail a pale sky-blue colour, the Aviation dates from the early age of aeronautics when air travel was a glamorous luxury that only the rich could afford. Choosing the right brand of crème de violette is crucial to the look and taste of this co*cktail.

In 2020, Aviation American Gin, which Reynolds is the co-owner of, was bought by alcohol-beverage giant Diageo in a deal that could be worth $610 million over time, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The deal includes an upfront payment of $335 million.

A mixture of gin, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur, the Aviation is a very friendly introduction to classic co*cktails--and let's face it, if you're flying this summer, you're going to need a drink.

Invented in 1916 by Hugo Ensslin, a German bartender working in New York, the Aviation combines gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette. Of those, the final ingredient — which gives this co*cktail its signature sky-blue hue — proves most polarizing.

Similar is some ways to the Frozen Mudslide but less sweet (due to the absence of the chocolate sauce used in the Mudslide). The FBI however, is also 'super tasty' if you like dessert style co*cktails.

Having a flight—a few smaller pours, usually around two ounces, of various drinks—can help introduce clientele to new spirits, different flavors and fun experiences. You can use it as a tool to help educate guests, like Amanda Swanson, the bar manager of Fine & Rare in New York.