Aviation Cocktail

Description

The Aviation Cocktail is believed to have been created by Hugo Ensslin, a bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City in the early 20th century. Ensslin first included the recipe for the cocktail in his 1916 book, “Recipes for Mixed Drinks,” and it quickly became a popular drink of the time.

The cocktail was originally made with gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and crème de violette. Crème de violette is a sweet liqueur made from violet flowers, which gives the cocktail its distinct pale purple color. However, during the Prohibition era, crème de violette became difficult to find and was often left out of the recipe, resulting in the classic version of the Aviation without the violet hue.

Here is a recipe for an Aviation cocktail:

• 2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz maraschino liqueur
• 1/4 oz crème de violette
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry if desired.

The combination of floral notes from the crème de violette and the sweet and sour flavors from the lemon and maraschino liqueur make for a balanced and refreshing cocktail. It’s a great option for gin lovers looking for a unique and elegant drink.

Popular Aviation Cocktail Garnishes

The Aviation cocktail is typically garnished with a Maraschino cherry. Additionally, a lemon twist or a lemon wheel is sometimes added as a garnish to provide a citrus aroma and flavor. Some bartenders also like to add a few drops of Crème de Violette on top of the cocktail to give it a vibrant blue color and a subtle floral aroma. However, it’s worth noting that not all Aviation cocktails traditionally contain Crème de Violette, and it’s more of an optional ingredient that some bartenders may choose to include. Overall, the garnishes for the Aviation cocktail are relatively simple and are meant to complement the cocktail’s flavors rather than overpower them.

Modern Aviation Cocktail Trends

In recent years, the Aviation cocktail has experienced a resurgence in popularity as part of the classic cocktail revival movement. Bartenders have put their own modern twists on the drink by experimenting with different types of gin and adding unique ingredients to the recipe. Some modern trends and variations of the Aviation cocktail include:

1. Barrel-aged Aviation: Some bartenders are aging the cocktail in oak barrels to give it a smoky, woody flavor.
2. Floral infusions: Many bartenders are infusing the gin with floral flavors like lavender or rose to give the cocktail a more pronounced floral taste and aroma.
3. Citrus variations: Some bartenders are adding other citrus flavors to the drink, like grapefruit or blood orange, to add a new dimension of flavor.
4. Muddled fruits: Another trend is to muddle fresh fruits like blueberries or raspberries into the cocktail to add a burst of fruity flavor.
5. Sparkling variations: Some bartenders are adding sparkling wine or champagne to the cocktail to give it a bit of fizz and effervescence.

Overall, the Aviation cocktail has proven to be a versatile drink that lends itself well to experimentation and modern twists while still staying true to its classic roots.

Traditions

The Aviation cocktail has a few traditions associated with it, including:

1. Garnish: Traditionally, the Aviation cocktail is garnished with a cherry, either Maraschino or Luxardo.
2. Glassware: The cocktail is typically served in a stemmed cocktail glass, also known as a martini glass. This glass is designed to hold the chilled cocktail without warming it up too quickly.
3. Stirring vs. shaking: There is some debate about whether the Aviation cocktail should be stirred or shaken. Some bartenders prefer to stir the cocktail to prevent it from becoming too cloudy, while others believe that shaking the cocktail is necessary to fully integrate the ingredients and create a frothy texture.
4. Aviation Gin: While not a requirement, many bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts believe that the Aviation cocktail is best made with Aviation Gin, a brand of gin that was created specifically for this cocktail.

Fast Facts About Aviation Cocktail

• The Aviation cocktail was first created in the early 20th century, likely in the early 1910s.
• The cocktail was popularized by Hugo Ensslin, a bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, who included it in his 1916 cocktail recipe book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks.”
• The original recipe called for gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette, which gave the drink its signature blue-purple color.
• The cocktail fell out of favor and almost disappeared during Prohibition, when crème de violette became difficult to find.
• The recipe was revived in the 1990s by bartenders in the classic cocktail revival movement, who recreated the cocktail using modern ingredients.
• The Aviation cocktail is traditionally served up in a chilled cocktail glass and garnished with a cherry.
• The cocktail has a light, refreshing flavor with a floral, slightly sweet taste from the maraschino liqueur and crème de violette.
• Some modern variations of the Aviation cocktail include using different types of gin or adding citrus or herbal ingredients for a unique twist.

Aviation Cocktail References in Bartending Books

The Aviation cocktail is a classic cocktail that dates back to the early 20th century. It was created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, and was first published in his 1916 cocktail recipe book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks”. Here are some references to the Aviation cocktail in old bartending books:

1. “Recipes for Mixed Drinks” by Hugo Ensslin (1916) – This is the first book to include the recipe for the Aviation cocktail. The recipe calls for gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette.
2. “The Savoy Cocktail Book” by Harry Craddock (1930) – This book includes a recipe for the Aviation cocktail that is similar to Ensslin’s original recipe, but with a slight variation in the amount of lemon juice used.
3. “Cocktail Bill Boothby’s World Drinks and How to Mix Them” by William “Cocktail Bill” Boothby (1934) – Boothby includes a recipe for the Aviation cocktail in his book, calling for gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters.
4. “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks” by David A. Embury (1948) – Embury includes a recipe for the Aviation cocktail in his influential book on cocktails, but notes that the recipe has evolved over time and may vary depending on the bartender.
5. “Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails” by Ted Haigh (2009) – Haigh includes a history of the Aviation cocktail in his book, tracing its origins back to Ensslin’s recipe and noting how it has evolved over time with variations in ingredients and preparation methods.

These are just a few examples of old bartending books that reference the Aviation cocktail. The drink has a rich history and has remained popular among cocktail enthusiasts for over a century.

Related Сocktails

The Aviation cocktail is a classic gin-based cocktail that is often associated with the pre-Prohibition era. While it is a unique and distinct cocktail in its own right, there are several related cocktails that share similar ingredients or flavor profiles. Here are a few examples:

1. Blue Moon – This cocktail is similar to the Aviation, but omits the crème de violette. It is made with gin, lemon juice, and maraschino liqueur, and is typically garnished with a lemon twist.
2. Moonlight Cocktail – This cocktail is similar to the Blue Moon, but includes grapefruit juice in addition to the gin, lemon juice, and maraschino liqueur. It is often served in a coupe glass and garnished with a grapefruit twist.
3. Silver Fizz – This classic fizz cocktail is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, egg white, and soda water. It has a frothy texture and a tangy, refreshing flavor that is similar to the Aviation.
4. Clover Club – This classic cocktail is made with gin, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. It is a frothy, pink-hued cocktail that has a sweet-tart flavor profile similar to the Aviation.
5. Gimlet – While not directly related to the Aviation, the Gimlet is another classic gin-based cocktail that is often served in a coupe glass. It is made with gin and lime juice, and can be sweetened with simple syrup or other sweeteners. Like the Aviation, it has a tangy, refreshing flavor that is perfect for sipping on a warm day.

These are just a few examples of cocktails that are related to the Aviation. Each of these drinks has a unique flavor profile and history, but they all share a love for gin and citrus flavors.