The Aviation Cocktail is a gin-based cocktail whose special appeal comes from the addition of maraschino liqueur. Previously headed for the endangered species list, the Aviation Cocktail seems to be having a revival thanks to the Internet. The Aviation was once regarded as the prince of cocktails, but the scarcity of maraschino liqueur nearly sent the drink into tippler’s oblivion. The name of this feisty Depression-era cocktail is supposedly linked to air travel of the time—a risky venture not for the faint of heart.
Only the most traditional or serious bars still make the Aviation. This is one drink that home-bartending aficionados are dabbling in.
Shake the Aviation hard enough that tiny flecks of ice float in the drink as soon as it is poured. Stay clear of the gooey syrup in maraschino cherry jars. It’s no substitute for the liqueur.
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