The Aviation is a beautiful light purple cocktail, said to have been created in New York in the early 1900s by bartender Hugo Ensslin.

The ingredient that gives this gin-based drink its pretty colour is Crème de Violette, which was actually discontinued for a period towards the end of the 20th century. While the classic recipe calls for this ingredient, the cocktail was still being made without it during this time. So if you can’t get your hands on Crème de Violette, don’t panic – just be careful to balance the other ingredients, as the Aviation can become a bit sour without it.

Ingredients:
50ml gin
15ml Maraschino liqueur
10ml Crème de violette
25ml lemon juice
1 Maraschino cherry to garnish or decorative flower

Method:
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.

2. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.

3. Garnish with a cherry or flower.

Note: You can purchase Crème de Violette and Maraschino liqueur online – just search for the ingredients on Google.

Why not have a Mocktail?
We couldn’t find a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail, but if you’re feeling creative and can concoct an alternative drink yourself, let us know!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY