Biggles Aviation
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.7% ABV ∙
The Biggles Aviation swaps the Aviation's maraschino for ginger liqueur, keeping the lemon and crème de violette, shaken and served up. Ginger spice arrives first and lingers, floral violette hovers underneath, and bright lemon keeps the whole thing crisp rather than sweet.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlGinger liqueur 15 mlLemon juice 15 mlSugar syrup 10 mlCrème de Violette liqueur 5 ml
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with ginger slices and lime wheels
Tips
- Shake all five ingredients hard with plenty of ice for a full 12-15 seconds, since the small syrup and violette measures need thorough dilution to integrate.
- Add the crème de violette last and taste before straining; its 5 ml pour is easy to overpour and will oversweeten and over-color the drink.
- Fine-strain into a chilled coupe to remove ice shards, keeping the pale violet hue clear rather than cloudy from lemon pulp.
- Cut the ginger slice thin and float it beside a lime wheel on the rim so the garnish releases aroma without overpowering the citrus-forward gin base.
History
The Biggles Aviation is a gin-forward twist on the Aviation, the gin sour built with maraschino liqueur and crème de violette that was created by Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, and first published in his 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks. The Biggles variation was created in 2008 at the Cabinet Room bar in London, where it took its name from Biggles, the fictional World War II flying ace, and swapped the Aviation's maraschino liqueur for a ginger liqueur to give the drink a spiced edge.
FAQ
What is in a Biggles Aviation?
London dry gin, ginger liqueur, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and crème de violette, shaken and fine-strained into a chilled glass. The ginger liqueur is what sets this build apart from a standard Aviation, adding a spiced edge alongside the classic violette float.
Is a Biggles Aviation shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice and sugar syrup need the aeration and quick chill of a hard shake, which also helps the two liqueurs integrate rather than sitting in separate layers.
What glass is a Biggles Aviation served in?
A coupe glass, served up and garnished with a ginger slice and a lime wheel.
How is a Biggles Aviation different from a regular Aviation?
A classic Aviation is built from gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette. This version replaces the maraschino with ginger liqueur, trading the cherry-almond note for a spiced warmth that comes through on the finish.
Is a Biggles Aviation vegan?
Yes, it is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it is built entirely from spirits, liqueurs, citrus juice, and sugar syrup with no animal-derived ingredients.
