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.

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

Classic Aviation co*cktail Recipe - The Urben Life? ›

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 maraschino liqueur for Aviation co*cktails? ›

Crème Yvette is the violet liqueur that I prefer. It is made of dried violet petals, blackberries, red raspberries, wild strawberries, cassis, honey, orange peel, and vanilla. If you use another violet liqueur then you may need to tweak the recipe. Luxardo's maraschino liqueur is easily the best around.

What is the best vermouth for aviation gin? ›

In a classic Martini, the spicy nature of the gin worked particularly well - especially the cardamom aspect of it. I found it better with Dolin dry vermouth than Carpano dry, and I found it better in a wet one, than a dry martini. As a gin and tonic, I thought Aviation was workman-like.

What are the ingredients in aviation gin? ›

It all starts with our precise blend of botanicals – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel. The botanicals are suspended in a neutral grain spirit for 18 hours in macerating tanks.

What is the Aviation co*cktail from the 20s? ›

Invented in 1916 by Hugo Ensslin, a German bartender working in New York, the Aviation combines gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette. Of those, the final ingredient — which gives this co*cktail its signature sky-blue hue — proves most polarizing.

Can you substitute maraschino cherry juice for maraschino liqueur? ›

The juice from a jar of maraschino cherries is also sweeter and it is not a recommended substitute for maraschino liqueur. Cherry-flavored vodkas are available, though these will not have a sweetness like the other options. With this replacement, consider adding a little extra sweetener to the recipe.

What is a substitute for maraschino liqueur in Aviation? ›

You can create a refreshing and flavorful non-alcoholic gin Aviation co*cktail by replacing Maraschino Liqueur with Maraschino cherry juice and Creme de Violette with lavender simple syrup.

Which gin is best for 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.

How much did Ryan Reynolds make from Aviation Gin? ›

The actor also cofounded and sold Aviation American Gin for $610 million. Reynolds reportedly netted as much as $122 million from the deal.

What co*cktail is similar to the Aviation? ›

Violet Tide co*cktail - a floral gin co*cktail similar to an Aviation — Inherited Salt.

Why is it called Aviation Gin? ›

In 2006, this vision materialized into reality with the first batch of Aviation Gin. The brand was aptly named as a nod to the classic Aviation co*cktail, a symbol of the era's innovation and elegance.

What celebrity makes Aviation Gin? ›

Ryan Reynolds, Aviation Gin

About nine botanicals go into the making of the juniper-forward Aviation Gin, including coriander, cardamom, French lavender and two kinds of orange peel, which is named after the eponymous pre-Prohibition era co*cktail.

What was the Frank Sinatra co*cktail? ›

Frank always liked to keep it simple, and this is the easiest of co*cktail recipes. You just put 3 ice cubes in a rocks glass, pour in two 'fingers' of Jack and add a splash of water. There are many old fashioned bartending terms that are no longer commonly used.

Why is my Aviation co*cktail grey? ›

That's really the color. You can use more violette if you want it to taste worse and look better. The bitter truth makes one that is more blue hued than the R&W you are using and it tastes better in the drink IMO.

What is the difference between Luxardo and maraschino liqueur? ›

Both maraschinos are tasty but quite distinct. The Luxardo adds more bitterness and almond flavors, along with cherry pit flavors as opposed to the flesh. The Maraska adds a lot of cherry fruit flavors along with the almond, and is substantially less bitter. It is also creamier, spicier, and a little less sweet.

What is Luxardo Maraschino liqueur used for? ›

Luxardo Maraschino Originale can be enjoyed in many classic co*cktails or neat as an after dinner drink. It is also ideal over fruits such as strawberries, pineapples, oranges etc. or as a flavor in confectionary and ice creams.

What's the difference between Aperol and Luxardo? ›

In general, the former is lower in alcohol—think Aperol, Select Aperitivo or Casoni 1814 Aperitivo—while the bitter genre—Luxardo Bitter, Campari or Meletti 1870 Bitter—contain about double the alcohol and are often more, well, bitter.

What's the difference between maraschino liqueur and cherry liqueur? ›

Both its color and low alcohol content point to another important distinction between Cherry Heering and maraschino liqueur: the former results from infusion of fruit in spirits; the latter entails a distillation, a process that yields a clear or nearly clear distillate.

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