Clean Aviation
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 26% ABV ∙
The Clean Aviation is a shaken gin sour built on gin, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette, served up with a lemon twist. Floral violet perfume settles over juniper and a light almond sweetness, with fresh lemon keeping the whole thing crisp rather than cloying.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlMaraschino liqueur 20 mlCrème de Violette liqueur 10 mlLemon juice 25 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the drink's surface right before serving, then rub the rim and drop it in as the garnish.
- Double-strain through a fine mesh sieve to catch lemon pulp and ice shards, keeping the surface glassy for the lemon twist garnish.
History
The Aviation is a gin cocktail credited to Hugo Ensslin, head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, who published the first known recipe in his 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks, calling for gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette. Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930 left out the crème de violette, and this version, without the floral liqueur, became the one most bartenders knew for decades, especially after the liqueur's sole producer stopped making it in the 1960s; a new importer brought crème de violette back to the American market in 2007, prompting a revival of the original recipe. The Clean Aviation is a twist created in November 2020 following a reader's suggestion, swapping the gin for vodka and adding a touch of absinthe for extra complexity, in a nod to the idea of a "cleaner" version of the classic.
FAQ
What is in a Clean Aviation?
London dry gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, lemon juice, and a touch of sugar syrup, shaken and served up in a coupe with a lemon twist. The gin leads, with the maraschino and violette adding sweetness and floral color rather than overwhelming it.
Is a Clean Aviation shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice and sugar syrup need the aeration and quick chill of a shake, which also softens the crème de violette's floral edge; stirring would leave it flat and under-diluted.
What glass is a Clean Aviation served in?
A coupe glass, served up and garnished with a lemon twist.
What does a Clean Aviation taste like?
Floral and citrus-forward with a gentle sweetness: violette gives it a perfumed lavender-like note, maraschino adds a soft cherry-almond depth, and fresh lemon keeps it tart enough to stop it turning cloying. At about 26% ABV it drinks lighter and more delicate than a standard gin sour, with a dry, fragrant finish.
Is a Clean Aviation vegan?
Yes, it is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it contains only gin, liqueurs, citrus juice, and sugar syrup with no animal-derived ingredients.
