Time to Fly!
Purple has long symbolized royalty in western culture, and in Chinese culture it stands for divinity, immortality, and even romance! So what better way to start the New Year than with an Aviation cocktail!
It’s time to fly!
The Aviation cocktail is a scrumptious classic created by New York bartender Hugo Ensslin in 1916. The purplish hue recently made quite the comeback in the US when, after decades without, we finally got our hands on Creme de Violette again. (I have a sneaky suspicion that our renewed obsession with mermaids and unicorns had something to do with that ?) And I’m thrilled to add to my home bar a stunning indigo colored gin, Empress 1908. It makes this cocktail that much more dazzling.
I’ve put my Mermaid with a Martini spin on this classic by cutting the lemon and adding…drum roll…grapefruit bitters! It’s risky, but I’m going for it! 2019 is all about taking risks, right?!
Aviation Cocktail (with a spin)
Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry
Add all ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice. Shake, shake, shake and pour into a gorgeous martini glass! Garnish with a delicious Maraschino Cherry.
I think your going to love the addition of grapefruit bitters to this classic. (I snagged them from Bitters & Bottles, my fave store!). For me, the traditional Aviation is a bit too sweet and I wanted to even that out with the bitterness of grapefruit. The dissonance is subtle, and exactly what I was looking for! I decided the perfect way to serve this beautiful cocktail, with such a rich history and “royal” spirit, was in a stunning vintage, needle etched glass from It’s Not Just Cocktails. Swoon! Vintage barware is such an exciting way to serve guests and is always complimented on over and over again. Vintage is a fab addition to any home bar.
Here’s a sneak peek into the process of taste testing! Each of these glasses has a different version of the recipe and since the Aviation is such a gorgeous cocktail, I wanted to show it off. Look at all those different hues! (Join me for a night of taste testing here, and I’ll send you my latest events and fabulousness!)
Speaking of fabulous…MY BOOK IS COMING SOON! Contact me or join the mailing list to be the first to know when it’s available! We’re in the process of formatting for all outlets of publication and soon you’ll be able to enjoy this laugh-out-loud, boisterous, and of course, boozy rom com. I can’t wait to share it with the world.
It’s time to fly! Happy 2019!
Splish Splash!
Keep your heels, head and standards high and your home a happy one!