Aviation Cocktail (layered)

The Aviation is a classic cocktail but uses a couple of unusual ingredients. The Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur may not be in your liquor locker, but it's readily available. The Creme de violette is a more unusual, and wasn't available in the U.S. until 2007 but without it you don't get the deep sky blue fading to purple. I make this as a layered drink to mimic the sky, just throwing it together tastes fine, but is monochromatic like a Blue Moon cocktail.

 

This recipe is based on ColdGlass.com which discusses various gins and that the higher amount of lemon is more suitable for hot days; sweet lemons are not as intense as tart ones. I've tried upping the Violette and it becomes overpowering very quickly. Use the real Maraschino Cherries from Luxardo: they're pricey but worth it; the kiddie ones -- even the natural ones from Tillen Farms -- don't do the drink justice. I ended up making my own from farmers market cherries when they were in season; they're tasty but not as meaty as the definitive Luxardo ur-cherries.

Some folks I've served this to find it a bit too intensely lemony. When layered, the top is going to be mostly gin and lemon. You might suggest stirring the creme de violette through the drink to balance the tartness. Layer this drink into a martini glass -- it's stunning.

 

For 1 drink:

 

60 ml    2 oz  Gin 

15 ml  1/2 oz  Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed

10 ml  1/4 oz  Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

10 ml  1/4 oz  Creme de violette (Rothman and Winter)

 1       1     Maraschino Cherry (not clown-nose colored ones)

 

Combine the Gin, Luxardo Liqueur, and Lemon and shake on ice. Strain into martini glasses. Drop a Maraschino Cherry through the drink to the bottom of the glass; I like to dribble a few drops of the thick liquid that clings to them for color.

Carefully drizzle the Creme de Violette through the drink slowly and let it settle to the bottom as a layer.