A recent shopping trip to BevMo netted me Campari, Lillet Blanc, orange bitters, and Maraschino. I had gone to find Sloe Gin, but apparently they don’t carry that anymore. I was told to try Cassis. Right. I also came into possession of a handle of Maker’s - thank goodness for Costco - so I decided that tonight’s drink would have to involve one of the new purchases.
Thumbing through Embury, I decided that the Aviation would be it. Luckily, he doesn’t call for crème de violette. As of that I have none.
8 parts Gin (No. 209) + 2 parts lemon juice + 1 part Maraschino (Luxardo)
The smell is positively foreign to me. The scent of gin is there, but it is the maraschino that takes center stage. Unlike previous cocktails, the lemon seems to have no presence at all, which is actually a nice change. Something about the cocktail called for jazz, so I’ve got Django on and it’s time to dive in.
The flavor is absolutely beautiful and I’m in love from the first sip. I’ve had an Aviation at a bar, but as I recall it they had used maraschino syrup, not maraschino liquor. Pink and sweet, to say in the least. This - a proper Aviation, by modern standards - is a cloudy, off-white with the bright pink of the cherry.
I can’t find the right words to describe the flavor of the maraschino, but it does pair wonderfully with the gin. I do have to wonder if my proportions were correct, however, as I am also unable to taste the lemon. I don’t think the drink suffers from that possible oversight.
The more I drink, though, the more I detect a note of acidity - aha! The lemon! It’s there, but vague.
One of the wonderful things about the drink is that the sweetness is quite well balanced. There is nothing tart about it, but also nothing cloying - all in the all the ideal situation.
As it turns out, the only let down of the drink is the cherry. Its syrupy goodness is too harsh a contrast to the delightful elegance (hah) of the drink. I’d have liked to part with the maraschino flavor in my mouth, not the maraschino cherry flavor. I think I may well forgo it next time around.
Though I’m having trouble isolating exactly what about this drink pleases me so much, please me it does and I will certainly be partaking of Aviations in the future.
