December 2, 2015 Advent with SusieJ

Aviation

Marsha Wirtel, Hot Water Bath

• 1 1/2 ounce dry gin
• 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
• 1/4 ounce crème de violette

Shake the first three ingredients in a shaker filled with ice — this drink should be very cold. Pour into a prepared glass (a coup is traditional, but I don't own any). Position a teaspoon over the cocktail upside down just about the surface and pour the crème de violette slowly over the spoon so that it drips into the drink. The violette will gather at the bottom of the glass, making a purple accent. Note that maraschino liqueur is not the same thing as the liquid from maraschino cherries, nor can one substitute kirschwasser. Learn from my mistakes, friends.

The Aviation is a pretty old-timey concoction with roots dating back well before prohibition. And it really does taste old-fashioned in the sense that it's not overly sweet or syrupy in the way that more modern cocktails can be. It's almost an aperitif. quite dry and astringent, and altogether refreshing. And strong. The easily anesthetized will find them bracing in the nicest possibly way.

Living with flight enthusiasts as I do, I thought it would be very cool to have a house cocktail that fit in with the theme of our lives (you know how some people go to Comic Con or Dr. Who conventions or whatever? My people go to aviation festivals). My husband rejected this idea as being entirely too twee, but don't believe him. It's actually a very badass cocktail and — thanks to the influence of the violette and in a nice bit of timey-wimey coincidence — bears a passing resemblance to modern day avgas, Nothing twee about that.