Knowing my penchant for trying new cocktails, my dear friends James and Jackie Williams gave me a bottle of Creme de Violette for Christmas. Creme de Violette is a liquor made from – you guessed it – violets. It lends a subtle floral aroma and flavor to drinks, as well as an appealing (but not over-the-top) violet color.

A number of classic cocktails call for Creme de Violette, and I mixed one of them,  the Aviation Cocktail, tonight. I added a small amount of simple syrup to the classic recipe,  to counter the sourness of the lemon juice, and the result was a very well-balanced drink – one that I will definitely add to my regular rotation.

Enjoy!

Aviation Cocktail

2 oz London Dry gin
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.25 oz maraschino liqueur (Luxardo)
.25 oz crème de violette (Rothman & Winter)
.25 oz simple syrup

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass.

Rating: 5