Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna Urben · This post may contain affiliate links

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This four ingredient classic aviation co*cktail recipe is light, bright, and floral! It's best known for its indigo hue and citrus flavor.

Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (1)

Indigo co*cktails are all the rage right now, and this classic gin co*cktail fits the bill. It's the perfect blend of sweet and tart, plus it's super pretty!

Why you'll love it

  • This mixed drink from the 1900’s is back and here to stay.
  • It's fun to experiment with new drink recipes and liqueurs!
  • An aviation gin co*cktail is perfect for happy hour at home, girls night, or late night drinks.
  • It looks impressive with its sky-blue / lavender color.

What is an aviation co*cktail?

The aviation co*cktail history dates back to the early twentieth century. It was created by HugoEnsslin at the Hotel Wallick in New York.

This retro co*cktail combines gin, maraschino liqueur, creme de violette, and fresh lemon juice.

Equipment

co*cktail shaker bar set: This stainless steel shaker comes with a measuring jigger and mixing spoon.

Double co*cktail jigger: Perfect for home bar beginners!

Ingredients

Be sure to track down all the ingredients and measure precisely.

  • Gin: Use your favorite dry gin as the base of this co*cktail.
  • Maraschino Liqueur: Luxardo maraschino liqueur imparts its bittersweet cherry flavor.
  • Crème de Violette: Rothman & Winter crème de violette is a liqueur made from violet flower petals. It gives the aviation its iconic color.
  • Lemon Juice: This ingredient adds acidity to cut through the sweetness. I recommend using fresh citrus juice.

How to make an aviation co*cktail

This co*cktail is super simple to make! Just shake ingredients together with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Serving tips

Serve aviation straight up, without ice, in a co*cktail glass. Garnish with a lemon peel or maraschino cherry.

Frequently asked questions

What is the recipe for aviation co*cktail?

To make a homemade aviation, shake 1 ½ ounces dry gin, ½ ounce maraschino liqueur, ½ ounce fresh lemon juice, and ¼ ounce creme de violette with ice. Strain into a co*cktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist or single maraschino cherry.

What is the best gin for aviation co*cktail?

It was originally created with El-Bart gin, however you can use your favorite dry gin. Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire are popular choices, as well as Citadelle because of its light flavor profile. I like using Empress Gin, due to its indigo hue from butterfly pea blossom and traditional citrus notes. Check out these simple Empress Gin co*cktails!

Can I make an aviation co*cktail with vodka?

To make a clean aviation co*cktail, replace the gin with vodka and add a dash of absinthe.

Does creme de violette have dairy?

Creme de violet contains no cream or dairy! It's a sweet floral liqueur with either a brandy base, a neutral spirit base, or a combination of the two.

Related recipes

Want more easy co*cktail recipes? Check these out next:

  • Classic Gin Gimlet
  • Manhattan co*cktail
  • Negroni co*cktail
  • Aperol Spritz Recipe
  • Classic Margarita Up
  • Paloma co*cktail
  • Texas Ranch Water
  • Pickleback co*cktail
  • Bloody Mary co*cktail
  • Champagne co*cktail

Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (2)

Aviation co*cktail Recipe

Author: Jenna Urben

This four ingredient classic aviation co*cktail recipe is light, bright, and floral! It's best known for its indigo hue and citrus flavor.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Servings 1 co*cktail

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces gin
  • ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ ounce crème de violette

Instructions

  • Add the gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and ​crème de violette to a co*cktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake it until cold. Strain into a co*cktail glass.

Notes

Serve aviation co*cktail straight up, without ice. Garnish with a lemon peel or maraschino cherry.

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating or review in the form below, then snap a picture and tag me @theurbenlife on Instagram!

Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (3)

More Drink and co*cktail Recipes

  • Lemon Drop Martini
  • Gin Gimlet
  • French Gimlet
  • Classic Manhattan co*cktail

About Jenna Urben

Jenna Urben is the recipe developer, content creator, and storyteller behind The Urben Life. She has over 10 years experience adapting family favorite meals to fit allergy-friendly diets. Join Jenna as she shares delicious dairy-free recipes that are easy to follow with plenty of tips and alternatives.

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  1. Andie P

    Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (8)
    Our 1st Aviation recipe that my daughter and I made. Just perfect! We’ve made it with the syrup of Luxardo cherries jar as well as the Luxardo liquor. Both are good but we love the syrup the best although there’s a limited supply. 🙁

    Reply

    • Jenna Urben

      Happy to hear that 🙂 We just recently enjoyed aviation co*cktails this weekend too!

      Reply

Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life (2024)

FAQs

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

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.

Which ingredient gives the gin based co*cktail Aviation the signature purple cast? ›

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.

What is the Aviation co*cktail vasectomy? ›

Steps
  • Add fresh ice to a tall glass.
  • Add 1 oz cranberry juice, 1.25 oz Aviation American Gin, and a dash of lemon juice.
  • Top off with 3 oz tonic.
  • Stir your co*cktail with a bar spoon or teaspoon.
  • Garnish with an orange twist.
  • Cheers!

What does Aviation co*cktail taste like? ›

An aviation has the dry herbal notes of gin, bright citrus flavor from lemon juice, and sweetness and floral fun from maraschino cherry liqueur and crème de violette liqueur. It's served straight-up, so make sure the co*cktail is icy-cold and pour it into a cold glass so the drink stays cold longer.

What was the Frank Sinatra co*cktail? ›

And one drink Sinatra and his contemporaries would often be seen sipping is the Rusty Nail, a co*cktail made of just two ingredients: Scotch and Drambuie. And while the Rusty Nail hasn't really been in fashion since the Rat Pack ran Hollywood, you never know when an old trend might resurface.

Why is the aviation co*cktail called that? ›

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.

What is the best gin for an Aviation co*cktail? ›

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.

Do you shake or stir Aviation co*cktails? ›

We have recipes for the classic Daiquiri, the Strawberry Daiquiri, and the Hemingway Daiquiri. Aviation: With crème de violette and fresh lemon juice as staple ingredients, the Aviation co*cktail must be shaken in order to include the right amount of air bubbles necessary to give it its soft, cloudy appearance.

What kind of glass is an Aviation co*cktail served in? ›

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 is a flight co*cktail? ›

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.

What is the male version of a vasectomy? ›

A vasectomy is a simple surgery done by a doctor in an office, hospital, or clinic. The small tubes in your scrotum that carry sperm are cut or blocked off, so sperm can't leave your body and cause pregnancy. The procedure is very quick, and you can go home the same day.

What is a Charlie Chaplin co*cktail? ›

1 1/2 part Sipsmith® Sloe Gin. 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice. 3/4 part apricot brandy. 1/4 part simple syrup.

Can you order an Aviation at a bar? ›

Today you will find the aviation on lists of classic co*cktails that should be experienced. Even so, don't expect to order it at every bar.

Why is my Aviation co*cktail blue? ›

The Aviation co*cktail is a classic gin co*cktail and is quite possibly the most successful variation on the Gin Sour. The Aviation gets its name from the light blue colour of the co*cktail that is created by adding a bar spoon of Crème de Violette.

What is the history of the Charlie Chaplin co*cktail? ›

This co*cktail dates back to the Prohibition era, specifically to the time when Charlie Chaplin was the reigning star of the silent film era. It was first crafted at New York's legendary Waldorf-Astoria, a hub for the city's elite and visiting dignitaries, where Chaplin was often a guest.

What is the history of the Sazerac co*cktail? ›

It all began when a French-owned family company began sending their world-renowned cognac to bars (formerly known as coffee houses) in New Orleans. It so happened that this particular cognac was a favorite of Antoine Peychaud, inventor of his namesake’s bitters, and was used to create the original Sazerac co*cktail.

What is the history of the Cooperstown co*cktail? ›

History. The Cooperstown co*cktail originated at the Waldorf bar around the turn of the 20th century. It was named in honor of Craig Wadsworth and his friends, who lived in Cooperstown, New York.

Who made Aviation alcohol? ›

Aviation American Gin, also known as Aviation Gin, is a brand of gin first produced in Portland, Oregon, by founders Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian in 2006. It is owned by the British-based multinational alcoholic beverage maker Diageo. It is produced by House Spirits Distillery.

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