Aviation Cocktail Recipe

The Aviation cocktail is one of the most elegant and historically significant gin drinks ever created. First appearing in the early 20th century, it reflects an era fascinated by technological progress and the romance of flight. Named for aviation’s symbolic connection to freedom and modernity, the cocktail became known for its pale violet hue and refined balance of botanical, citrus, and floral notes. Like many pre-Prohibition cocktails, the Aviation nearly disappeared due to ingredient shortages and changing tastes. Its revival in the 21st century has made it a staple of craft cocktail menus worldwide. Today, the Aviation is celebrated not only for its flavour but also as a living piece of cocktail history.

The Aviation cocktail is a landmark of classic mixology whose history mirrors the technological optimism and cultural shifts of the early twentieth century. First recorded in 1916, the drink emerged at a time when powered flight captured the public imagination, symbolising progress, freedom, and modernity. Against this backdrop, the Aviation became a sophisticated expression of pre-Prohibition cocktail culture, combining visual elegance with carefully balanced flavour. Its subtle colour and aromatic profile distinguished it from heavier drinks of the era, appealing to adventurous drinkers seeking refinement as well as novelty.

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The cocktail was created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at New York’s Hotel Wallick, and published in his influential book Recipes for Mixed Drinks. Ensslin’s original Aviation recipe blended London dry gin with fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette. The inclusion of crème de violette gave the drink its signature pale sky-blue to light violet hue, an intentional reference to aviation itself. During Prohibition, however, this floral liqueur disappeared from the American market. As a result, later versions, including the influential 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, omitted crème de violette entirely, altering both the flavour and appearance of the drink.

For much of the twentieth century, this stripped-down version defined the Aviation, until the craft cocktail revival of the early 2000s sparked renewed interest in historic recipes and forgotten ingredients. The reintroduction of crème de violette allowed bartenders to restore the Aviation to its original form, re-establishing its balance of botanical gin, bright citrus acidity, and delicate floral sweetness. Today, the Aviation cocktail is recognised as a classic gin-based drink and a symbol of cocktail heritage. Properly prepared by shaking the ingredients with ice, straining into a chilled coupe, and garnishing with a Luxardo cherry or lemon twist, it remains both a sensory pleasure and a living link to early twentieth-century drinking culture.

The Aviation Cocktail

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 oz of gin

• 1 3/4 oz of lemon juice

• 1 3/4 maraschino liqueur

• 3/4 oz of crème de violette

• Ice

• Use blueberries and lemon zest to garnish

Assembly

Combine the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Add a dash of chilled water to dilute. Strain into four chilled cocktail glasses and garnish with blueberries and lemon zest.