Aviation

Aviation

The provenance of this cocktail is lost to time, so I’ve added a ‘little’ embellishment to bring it back to life….

[To be read in a New York accent]

It was 1917, December; I was working the bar at the Hotel Wallick in New York City. The hotel had once been a bit out of town, pretty far from the usual business and entertainment districts, but now the city had grown up around it, it was in the center of the bustling theatre district.

It had been a busy lunchtime shift and things were winding down before the evening rush. I spotted her as soon as she walked into the bar; she was different, and not just her clothes. She wasn’t dressed like the girls that usually came in, dolled up and looking for nothing more strenuous than reaching over to have their cigarette lit for them, she looked like she was looking for her next adventure.

She wore a battered flying jacket, tight black trousers, and knee length boots. Her dark hair curled over her shoulders and her lips were painted red. But as she reached the bar it was her eyes that captured me, they were lavender blue, and I was mesmerized.

Dragging myself back to reality, I asked her what I could get for her and she answered that she wanted something different, something new; so I told her to tell me about herself and I’d make something up just for her. She was a pilot, just don’t call her an aviatrix, and she had flown all over the country looking for the next big thrill.

So, I knew her drink had to start with gin, it’s bold and forward and you always know it’s there; I added some lemon juice for balance and maraschino liqueur to make it really stand out; but something was missing. Staring into her eyes for another second that felt like forever I knew exactly what the drink needed and added crème de violette. The dark, velvety, purple liquid tinted the drink the exact colour of her eyes. Shaking the drink with ice I strained it into a coupe glass and garnished it with a maraschino cherry that was the same colour as her lips.

She took a sip and smiled, telling me that it was perfect.

And so, the Aviation Cocktail was born.

Put 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 2 dashes maraschino liqueur, 2 dashes crème de violette in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe, garnish with a maraschino cherry and drink while wearing red lipstick.