SKY BLUE AVIATION
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
1,5cl Maraschino
0,5cl Créme de Violette
2cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
SKY BLUE AVIATION
HOW TO MAKE
Combine Illusionist Dry Gin, Maraschino liqueur, Créme de Violette, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a shaker. Add ice and seal the shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a coupette and let yourself be taken away by its beautiful blue hue.
PERFECT SERVE
A PERFECT PAIRING
The Aviation cocktail has a stunning blue color that's often achieved with the help of crème de violette. This liqueur, which disappeared from shelves in the 1960s but was revived in 2007, is key to getting the Aviation's signature look. However, some people believe that modern crème de violette isn't the same as the traditional version, so they've reverted to using maraschino liqueur alone at the cost of the drink's signature hue.
The Illusionist Gin, with its deep blue color, is the perfect foundation for your Aviation cocktails. If you prefer the maraschino-only recipe, you can still get the drink's unique color without using crème de violette using our Sky Blue Aviation recipe, excluding the crème de violette.
Our 700ml bottles of Illusionist Dry Gin make approximately 14 cocktails, depending on your recipe. We also offer packs of two 700ml bottles, perfect for larger gatherings.
AVIATION COCKTAIL
A LITTLE HISTORY
The Aviation is a classic gin cocktail that's over 100 years old. It's a stunning cocktail to look at, and the most popular recipe to feature crème de violette. The floral taste is what truly sets this cocktail apart. In true old-fashioned style, it requires only a few ingredients. The combination of gin, cherry, violets, and lemon offers a fascinating flavor. By replacing traditional gin with our unique blue gin, the purple hues transition to a soft, sky blue in true Illusionist style.
MORE INFORMATION
Consider an Illusionist Bee's Knees if you're looking for an alternative cocktail with freshly squeezed lemon juice but without the Maraschino liqueur. The Illusionist Bee's Knees calls for 12 parts Illusionist Dry Gin, 4 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 3 parts honey syrup. Put these ingredients in your shaker and add ice. Shake back and forth for 15 seconds. Pour through a strainer and serve this cocktail with an edible flower garnish.
The Illusionist Distillery also has several other recipes featured on its cocktail page. Find the perfect cocktail for any occasion, and impress your guests with your mixology skills.
Perfect your presentation by adding a garnish. We recommend lemon zest as the perfect garnish for Sky Blue Aviation. Make twisted lemon garnishes to give your finished beverage a stylish look.
Cocktails with heavier ingredients like fruit, syrup, or creme must be shaken to ensure all the ingredients blend perfectly. Shaking the ingredients enables those ingredients to bond to your gin. Without shaking, you'll end up with a clumpy drink that doesn't deliver a consistent taste or texture with each sip. Shaking cocktails with ice also cools the ingredients so you can serve a cold cocktail.
Mixologists recommend using a strong back-and-forth motion. Think of it like shaking the cocktail from the top of the shaker to the bottom. Side-to-side shaking won't thoroughly mix the ingredients, and you should put the full 15 seconds into shaking the contents from the top to the bottom and back.
Sky Blue Aviation is a cocktail that's shaken, so you'll need a cocktail shaker. These airtight containers enable you to shake the contents without spilling liquid. Cocktail makers are made from stainless steel, which makes them easy to clean. If you're purchasing your first cocktail shaker, consider buying one with a jigger. Jiggers are measuring tools for alcohol. Jiggers typically come in half an ounce, one ounce, and one-and-a-half ounce sizes. You can also buy jiggers marked for sizes ranging from a quarter ounce to one ounce.
You'll need a strainer once you're done shaking your ingredients. There are several types of strainers you may need for the ultimate home bar, but you won't need a Julep strainer to make Sky Blue Aviation because you don't need to stir this cocktail. A Hawthorne strainer has a coil spring around it, so it fits perfectly on a mixing tin. Depending on your preference, you can buy a Hawthorne strainer with a short or long handle. You can also use a thin wire strainer commonly associated with straining tea leaves. These wire strainers prevent berries from flowing through when you pour a drink. Expert mixologists use a Hawthorne and wire strainer together to ensure seeds don't get into their cocktails. You can also use wire strainers to catch ice shards. When ice slips through to your cocktail, it waters down the beverage, diluting its taste and potency.
