The Aviation gin cocktail is basically like time travel to the early 1900’s – also known as “Prohibition Era” in the timeline of cocktail drinks.

This purple-hued gin cocktail has so many flavors, so I encourage you to modify this recipe to your tastes. If you like tart, add more lemon juice. If you like more sweet flavors, add more Creme de Violette or Luxardo.

Aviation gin cocktail with cherry and lemon garnish.

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The Aviation

The classic, and purple, gin cocktail that might have nothing to do with flying things at all.

Ingredients

2 Oz. Gin
.5 Oz. Lemon juice
.25 Oz. Marashino Liquor Try Luxardo
.25 Oz. Creme de Violette It's really the best one to use here.
1 garnish Lemon peel

Instructions

Start with a chilled coupe glass. The icier the better.
Add all of your ingredients, barring the garnish, into a shaker with loads of ice.
Go to town shaking it all up.
Strain into your coupe glass.
Garnish with your lemon peel, which you have the option of flaming before you "decorate" your Aviation.

Luxardo The Original Maraschino Cherries | Gourmet Italian Maraschino Cherries | Ideal for Cocktails and Desserts, 400g Jar (Wine)

$18.99 ($1.34 / Fl Oz)

Monin – Violet Syrup, Mild and Floral, Great for Cocktails and Sodas, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO (750 ml) (Misc.)

$18.90 ($0.74 / FL Oz)

Rudyard Kipling “Pegu Club” Gentlemen’s Club Cocktail Coupe Glass 2-Piece Set (Gift Box Collection) (Kitchen)

Cocktail Picks Reusable Stainless Steel Martini Picks Set Fruit Stick Toothpicks, Drink Skewers Fruit Garnish Swizzle Sticks for Olive Skewers, Cocktails, and Bloody Mary Set of 12 (Home)

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Tips for making a delightful Aviation cocktail.

Use fresh ingredients. Fresh lemon juice makes the difference between “meh” and “WOW”.

Go for flavor, not for color. Both the Luxardo liquor and the Creme de Violette make this gin cocktail delightful to look at, but if you go overboard on the colors, you miss the delicate gin flavors.

Aviation gin cocktail ingredients – go for a chilled glass and fresh lemon juice.

What garnish to use for an Aviation?

Traditionally, the Aviation is garnished with a cherry. This cherry can be whole and fresh, or make it a Luxardo Cherry. You can even make your own Luxardo Cherry. If you love super sweet cocktails, add a maraschino cherry. The neon variety, which is basically hot pick sugar smashed into the shape of a cherry.

You can also garnish your Aviation with lemon. Use the skin for a punch of lemon oil, which you can squeeze over your drink or swirl on the rim.

Or do both.