Aviation Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare glass

   Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you mix the cocktail to chill.

2. 2

   Measure ingredients

   In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz London dry gin, 0.5 oz maraschino liqueur (Luxardo), 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 tsp Crème de Violette, and 0.25 oz simple syrup if you prefer a slightly sweeter balance. Using fresh lemon juice is important for bright acidity.

3. 3

   Add ice and shake

   Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup). Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is well chilled and slightly frosted. The shake both chills and dilutes to balance the cocktail.

4. 4

   Strain

   Discard the ice or water from the chilled glass. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer to catch small ice shards and any pulp from the lemon.

5. 5

   Garnish and finish

   Garnish with a single Luxardo cherry placed in the glass. Optionally express a lemon peel over the surface to release oils, rub it on the rim, and drop it into the drink or discard according to preference.

6. 6

   Serve

   Present immediately while cold. The finished cocktail should be a pale, slightly floral blue-lavender color with a bright lemon edge and maraschino complexity.