Prohibition Era Cocktails

Aviation

The Aviation is one of the most beautiful classic cocktails and a showcase for gin's floral potential. Created in the early 1900s by Hugo Ensslin at New York's Hotel Wallick, the Aviation combines gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice to create a pale sky-blue cocktail with complex floral-citrus character. The drink disappeared for decades when crème de violette became unavailable, but the craft cocktail renaissance brought both the liqueur and the cocktail back. Served in a chilled coupe glass with a cherry garnish, the Aviation represents pre-Prohibition cocktail sophistication, the craft cocktail revival, and the beauty of obscure ingredients. The drink embodies early 20th-century elegance, golden age cocktail culture, and the rediscovery of forgotten classics. The Aviation's floral notes (from violette), cherry complexity (from maraschino), botanical depth (from gin), and citrus brightness create a perfectly balanced, Instagram-worthy cocktail. The drink demands quality ingredients: good gin (preferably floral like Hendrick's), Luxardo maraschino, Rothman & Winter crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice. Too much violette creates a soapy perfume bomb; the right amount creates ethereal beauty. The Aviation represents cocktail archaeology, the craft cocktail movement's love of forgotten drinks, and the artistry of pre-Prohibition bartending. Whether served at a speakeasy or modern cocktail bar, the Aviation delivers floral sophistication.