Hugo Ensslin, chief bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, invented the Aviation in the early 20th century. The drink's first published recipe appeared in Ensslin's 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks. Ensslin's recipe included for El Bart gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette, which gives the beverage a pale purple hue.
Variations of Aviation cocktails are:
- The Aviation, which uses maraschino as a sweetener, is a variant on the Gin Sour.
- The Blue Moon cocktail is prepared without maraschino and is made with gin, lemon juice, and crème de violette or Creme Yvette.
- Gin, lime juice, Cointreau, and crème de violette are combined in the Moonlight drink.
Spirit Used
Gin
Ingredients
¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ ounce crème de violette
½ ounce maraschino cherry liqueur
2 ounces London dry gin
Ice
Cherry or lemon twist for garnish
Recipe
1. Chill a cocktail glass, martini glass, or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, crème de violette, maraschino 3. liqueur, and gin.
4. Add the ice and shake to chill.
5. Strain into the chilled glass.
6. Garnish with a cherry or a lemon twist.
