THE COCKTAIL CLUB - APRIL 2022
Let’s learn to shake, baby. This month we’re featuring The Aviation.
THE AVIATION
INGREDIENTS
1.5oz Old Tom Gin
0.75oz Lemon Juice
.50oz Giffard Creme du Violette
.25oz Fratelli Vergnano Maraschino Liqueur
1 Boozy Cherry
HOW TO MAKE IT
Step One | Add all of the above ingredients into a shaker tin
Step Two | Fill the glass with ice + shake vigorously
Step Three | Strain your chilled cocktail into a martini or coupe glass
*extra points if you have a hawthorne strainer*
Step Four | Garnish with a boozy cherry
WHY DO WE SHAKE?
The simple answer? We’re adding water! While shaking your cocktail, think of moving your ice from the back of the tin to the front of the tin…. lots. We’re doing this until your tin is cold to touch.
“WE DON’T SHAKE GIN”
While this argument has plagued bartenders alike for hundreds of years, that particular sentiment comes down to appearances: a shaken gin cocktail tends to be cloudy.
That is not because you are “bruising” the botanicals in the gin - there’s no amount of shaking you can do to really disrupt the solution of booze + oils + water in this cocktail (absinthe is another animal all-together).
The reason we are shaking this one, is to properly aerate the drink. The bubbles created by shaking get trapped for a brief moment in the solution, and give the drink the diffuse, indigo haze of twilight. (insert twinkle emoji here?)
ABOUT OUR AVIATION
We prefer to use Old Tom Gin because it is a little sweeter, helping to cut the acidity of the lemon while being round enough to balance the sometimes overpowering perfume of the violet liqueur. The Vergnano maraschino has a slight heat to it that we really like in this cocktail.
Ps. Wondering why we didn’t opt for the famous cherry liquor, Luxardo? It’s a little too sweet for our palate and usually a little more expensive.
ADDITIONAL RECIPES
There are quite a few different ways you can modulate this cocktail - leave out the maraschino, and you’ve got the Blue Moon. Again, skip the maraschino, add orange curacao (or triple sec), and you’ve got the Moonlight. Or for a fun brunch option - add a splash of Violette to your French 75 for a delightfully floral tipple that will make your afternoon splendid.
Blue Moon:
2 oz Gin
0.50oz Lemon juice
0.50oz Creme de Violette
Moonlight Cocktail:
1.50z Gin
0.75oz Triple Sec or Orange Curacao
0.50oz Lime juice
0.50oz Lemon juice
Floral 75:
1.0oz Gin
0.50oz Lemon juice
0.50oz Creme de Violette
Sparkling wine
*shake all ingredients, except the bubbles until very cold. Strain to a champagne flute and top with bubbles.
JOIN THE CLUB
Looking to learn more about craft cocktails, improve your bartending skills, or perhaps have an adorable boozy date night? Then you do not want to miss this quarterly club! Due to the various selections, pricing will vary. ($60 - $100)