TASTE cocktails’ new kit for June is “The Aviation” – a gorgeous early 20th century recipe which blends sweet, sour and floral notes in a gloriously blue drink. Check back in with this blog later in the month for more on Blackdown Gin, The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur and St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, which also feature in the kit.
So named due to the crème de violette giving the cocktail 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 cocktail.
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Then, tragedy struck. The major producer of crème de violette shut down and the liqueur vanished from the American market in the 1960s. Cocktails were forgotten, substitutes were suggested, but the authentic versions of any cocktail with this violet liquid nearly faded away for good. Even during Prohibition the liqueur was apparently hard to come by as famous bartenders like Harry Craddock left it out of their printed recipes.
Have no fear! The Aviation has soared back into fashion. In 2007, an importer in Minneapolis called Haus Alpenz brought crème de violette back to the United States right as the popularity of craft, historical cocktails exploded back into fashion. The original Aviation has touched back down and it looks like it’s here for good. Who knew an old drink could feel so new?
Fly high into the world of Prohibition Era cocktails with the classic Aviation! It’s unlike any other cocktail on our menu as it introduces a floral dimension to the drinking experience with its violet liqueur. It’s an elevated version of the Gin Sour, using the traditional lemon juice for its citrus, but substituting Maraschino liqueur for simple syrup as its sweetener.
The Aviation was almost lost to history, at least in this country. While it’s a truly classic cocktail, it comes off as new to imbibers since the ability to create the authentic recipe disappeared for over half a century. The cocktail was invented in the early years of the 20th century and first showed up in a 1916 cocktail 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.
We have no inside information that crème de violette is going to perform an encore on its vanishing act, but it’s best not to take the chance. If a complex, balanced glass of floral delight sounds like heaven to you, ask the next bartender you see to stir up an Aviation for you today.
TASTE cocktails’ new kit for June is “The Aviation” – a gorgeous early 20th century recipe which blends sweet, sour and floral notes in a gloriously blue drink. Check back in with this blog later in the month for more on Blackdown Gin, The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur and St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, which also feature in the kit.
The Aviation is a classic gin based cocktail which is shaken and served straight up. Very similar to a Gin sour, it also combines maraschino liqueur to balance sour with sweet, and most versions use violet liqueur for a floral touch and a subtle blue hue. It is said that the cocktail was named after the sky-blue colour is takes on when a few dashes of violet are added. Some bartenders these days add much more and turn it entirely purple instead.
How to Make the Best Aviation Cocktail – shaken or stirred?
FAQ
What cocktail is named after an airplane?
What is the difference between Aviation and blue moon?
What does Aviation taste like?
How old is the aviation cocktail?
What is an Aviation cocktail?
The aviation cocktail is a fantastic classic cocktail with a long and rocky past. It is a stunning cocktail to look at and the most popular recipe to feature crème de violette. The floral taste is also captivating, and in a true old-fashioned style, it requires just a few ingredients.
Who invented the aviation drink?
One of those drink detectives was San Francisco bartender Paul Harrington, who inserted the Aviation, as well as a history of the drink, into his seminal 1998 book, Cocktail. “I was not aware of anyone else making the drink at that time,” remembers Harrington.
What is the Aviation Gin Cocktail?
The Aviation is a classic gin cocktail 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. In the ensuing decades, it was all but forgotten.
What is the aviation liqueur?
The liqueur’s newfound availability led to the Aviation reappearing on bar menus across the United States market, as bartenders rediscovered this classic recipe. The Aviation combines gin, maraschino liqueur and fresh lemon juice alongside that crème de violette, creating a unique, floral cocktail.