American · Drinks · SAMPLE RECIPE

Aviation · gin, cherry & a hint of violet

Gin and fresh lemon meet maraschino liqueur and a small measure of crème de violette. The result is delicately floral, with a restrained pale lavender hue.

From The Saucey Life kitchen • Serves 2

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Very pale lavender-blue Aviation in a shallow coupe, without ice, with one small dark cocktail cherry — AI-generated serving inspiration for a sample recipe.

PREP7 min

TOTAL7 min

SERVES2

A NOTE FROM THE KITCHEN

Maraschino liqueur is not cherry syrup.

Use clear maraschino liqueur, such as Luxardo, and crème de violette. They are separate ingredients with different flavors. The violet liqueur is measured sparingly; brands vary in both sweetness and color. A dark cocktail cherry is the only garnish.

Ready to get started? The ingredients and steps are right below.

LET’S MAKE SOMETHING GOOD

Aviation · gin, cherry & a hint of violet

Sample recipe awaiting kitchen testing. Timings are estimates. Contains alcohol.

The good part

Check off each step as you cook.

Chill and measure.Fill small coupes with ice while measuring the gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and crème de violette. Drain the cherries.
Shake cold.Combine all measured liquids in a shaker with plenty of ice. Seal and shake for about 15 seconds until well chilled.
Fine-strain and finish.Empty the coupes and discard their meltwater. Strain the drink evenly through a fine sieve into them. Add one drained cherry to each and serve without ice.

0 of 3 steps complete

BEHIND THE DISH · New York cocktail history

Aviation · gin, cherry & a hint of violetBeyond the plate.

A small measure of violet liqueur gives this gin-and-lemon cocktail its floral edge and restrained lavender tint.

ORIGINS & EVOLUTION

A violet note in an early recipe.

The Aviation appears in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks, written while he worked in New York. That formula included crème de violette. Later influential versions omitted it, helping create two different understandings of the same cocktail.

CULTURAL CONTEXT

An ingredient returns to the bar.

When violet liqueur became difficult to obtain, the version without it remained easier to make. Its renewed availability helped revive the floral preparation. Maraschino liqueur contributes a separate cherry-kernel character; it is not the sweet red syrup surrounding cocktail cherries.

AT THE TABLE

Keep the violet measure small.

Our recipe follows the International Bartenders Association’s gin, maraschino, lemon, and violet structure. A single dark cherry supplies the garnish. The intended color is pale, with the precise shade depending on the liqueur used.

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