3. When Gin Enters the Mix: The Aviation.
WHAT IT IS: The Aviation is a delicious, colorful marriage of Gin, lemon, Luxardo and Violet. Visually striking because of the subtle gradation of color, this is one of those cocktails that fell out of favor because of the difficulty of finding ingredients. First created in 1911, and then made poorly if at all because of the impossibility of locating crème de violette, the Aviation is the poster child of the forgotten and unloved drinks the current cocktail revival is in the middle of reviving.
Today, several companies are producing good-quality violet liqueurs, and the Aviation flies once again, but be careful which brand of violet you use, as cheap knock-offs will make this drink taste perfumed and sour, like an old lady’s purse. I recommend either Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur or Tempis Fugit’s Liqueur De Violettes, but remember that the Tempis Fugit will make the drink pink, if you prefer your cocktails butch.
HOW TO MAKE IT: Take 1 ½ ounces of a good botanical gin, ½ ounce of Luxardo and ½ ounce of gin and shake together with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Carefully pour ½ ounce of violet liqueur down the side of the glass. This will let the drink have a gradation of color, a deep blue or purple on the bottom and pale at the top. It should look like a blue sky.
There are bartenders who will argue over garnishing this with a lemon peel or a cherry. I’m not one of them. Do what you like, but know that the color will show better with the lemon peel.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: The Aviation exemplifies the revival of a good drink by determined, historically minded bartenders. It also shows how much one ingredient can change the balance of a drink for better or for worse. It is strikingly pretty when made correctly, which can be handy when showing off. Also, the “pour down the glass for gradation of color” trick can be hijacked pretty effectively with any colored cordial.
