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During Paddy's visit he told me of a golden era cocktail that was served to him at a speakeasy in San Francisco called an Avation. He liked it very much but I had not heard of it. I checked my 1979 edition of Old Mr. Boston, but there was no mention of it. When we arrived at my office the next morning I checked my libarary of old bar books. It wasn't in my 1956 Esquire Drink Book or The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book or The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris. My 1947 Bartender's Guide by Trader Vic had three completely different formulas. One wine based, one Bourbon based and one more like what I have come to know as an Avaition cocktail:
1/2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. lomon juice
2 dashes maraschino liqueur
Stir with cracked ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass.
Variation: Add 2 dashes of Creme de violette.
My 1935 Old Mr. Boston had this recipe:
1/3 lemon juice
2/3 Old Mr. Boston Dry Gin
2 dashes maraschino
Shake well with cracked ice and strain into 3 oz. cocktail glass.
This was some very interesting information I found on the history of this drink:
Aviation Cocktail
1/3 Lemon Juice. (3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice)
2/3 Dry Gin. (1 1/2 oz Plymouth Gin)
2 Dashes Maraschino. (1/2 tsp. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur)
[2 Dashes Creme de Violette] (1/2 tsp. Rothman and Winter Creme de Violette Liqueur)
(1/2 teaspoon Rich Simple Syrup)
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. (Garnish with cherry.)
In one of the Savoy Cocktail Book’s more famous typos or mistakes, Craddock (or the editors) left the Violette out of the recipe for the Aviation Cocktail.
This is the earliest recipe from Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 “Recipes for Mixed Drinks.”
Aviation Cocktail
1/3 Lemon Juice
2/3 El Bart Gin
2 dashes Maraschino
2 dashes Creme de Violette
Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.
http://underhill-lounge.flannestad.com/2008/02/24/aviation-cocktail/
At our get together at Huber's, I asked the bartender if he could make one. He didn't have the Creme de Violette, but he suggested a substitute....so I said give it a go. I haven't been much of a gin drinker but I must say this was a smooth drink. Paddy and I had one which he said tasted like the one he had in the bay area.
The drink caught on. Before long the whole table was ordering Aviations. It was the drink of the night. I think the bar might add it to their list.
Apparently the Creme de Violette is not seen much. pdxvintagette is having a bottle shipped to her. I have spent some time locating it and will be picking up a bottle on Monday.
After searching the Lounge I have found a few posts scattered about but I thought it might be fun to have a thread devoted to this vintage cocktail.
Enjoy!
1/2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. lomon juice
2 dashes maraschino liqueur
Stir with cracked ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass.
Variation: Add 2 dashes of Creme de violette.
My 1935 Old Mr. Boston had this recipe:
1/3 lemon juice
2/3 Old Mr. Boston Dry Gin
2 dashes maraschino
Shake well with cracked ice and strain into 3 oz. cocktail glass.
This was some very interesting information I found on the history of this drink:
Aviation Cocktail
1/3 Lemon Juice. (3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice)
2/3 Dry Gin. (1 1/2 oz Plymouth Gin)
2 Dashes Maraschino. (1/2 tsp. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur)
[2 Dashes Creme de Violette] (1/2 tsp. Rothman and Winter Creme de Violette Liqueur)
(1/2 teaspoon Rich Simple Syrup)
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. (Garnish with cherry.)
In one of the Savoy Cocktail Book’s more famous typos or mistakes, Craddock (or the editors) left the Violette out of the recipe for the Aviation Cocktail.
This is the earliest recipe from Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 “Recipes for Mixed Drinks.”
Aviation Cocktail
1/3 Lemon Juice
2/3 El Bart Gin
2 dashes Maraschino
2 dashes Creme de Violette
Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.
http://underhill-lounge.flannestad.com/2008/02/24/aviation-cocktail/
At our get together at Huber's, I asked the bartender if he could make one. He didn't have the Creme de Violette, but he suggested a substitute....so I said give it a go. I haven't been much of a gin drinker but I must say this was a smooth drink. Paddy and I had one which he said tasted like the one he had in the bay area.
The drink caught on. Before long the whole table was ordering Aviations. It was the drink of the night. I think the bar might add it to their list.
Apparently the Creme de Violette is not seen much. pdxvintagette is having a bottle shipped to her. I have spent some time locating it and will be picking up a bottle on Monday.
After searching the Lounge I have found a few posts scattered about but I thought it might be fun to have a thread devoted to this vintage cocktail.
Enjoy!
