How to Make a Clean Aviation

You’ve most likely heard of the classic Gin cocktail, the Aviation but you probably won’t have heard of the Clean Aviation…until now. 

With its smooth, clean flavors, the Clean Aviation is a great cocktail to sip during warm afternoon gatherings or a cozy and elegant cocktail party at home. 

The best part? You can whip up this cocktail easily. So, whether you’re a cocktail pro or a cocktail novice, give the Clean Aviation a try and impress your guests with this delicious twist on a pre-Prohibition classic.

How To Make a Clean Aviation

What You’ll Need

• Citrus Press (aka Citrus Elbow)
• Cocktail Glass
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument
• Cocktail Shaker
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Fine Strainer
• Atomizer

Preparing Your Glass

1. Pour Pernod Absinthe into an Atomizer.
2. Take your chilled Cocktail Glass out of the freezer and spray it with Pernod Absinthe.

How to Mix

1. Using a Citrus Press, squeeze fresh Lemon Juice and then pour it into the Cocktail Shaker.

2. Measure Maraschino Liqueur then pour into the Shaker. 

3. Measure Absolut Vodka then pour into the Shaker. 

4. Add Ice Cubes and shake vigorously.

5. Spray your glass with Pernod Absinthe (see ‘Preparing Your Glass’ above)

6.  Using a Fine Strainer and a Hawthorne Strainer, fine strain into your glass.

7. Garnish with a single Maraschino Cherry dropped straight into the glass.

What is a Clean Aviation?

The Clean Aviation is a Vodka cocktail created by bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador Ricardo Dynan (aka Rico).  

What Does a Clean Aviation Cocktail Taste Like?

A wonderful mix of citrusy and floral flavors, with a touch of herbaceous notes from the Absinthe. The smoothness of Vodka marries perfectly with the floral notes of the Maraschino liqueur, creating a balanced taste that’s perfect for sipping.

The History of the Clean Aviation Cocktail

This cocktail recipe was created in 2020 by a London cocktail expert based on a comment from a reader about the Aviation recipe that featured in the expert’s popular cocktail publication. Rico adjusted the recipe here because he’s in the ‘no crème de violette in an Aviation’ camp!

The original Gin-based Aviation cocktail itself dates to the turn of the 20th century.

Variations of a Clean Aviation Cocktail

Aviation
As mentioned above, the Clean Aviation is a modern variation of the classic Gin-based Aviation cocktail. Why not compare the two? Discover our recipe for a classic Aviation cocktail.

Blue Moon
In addition to showing how to make a Clean Aviation, in the video above, Rico also demonstrates how to make a classic Aviation. However, you’ll notice that he does not use Crème de Violette. That’s right – according to Rico, you should only use Crème de Violette once in a Blue Moon. See what he did there? Learn how to make a Blue Moon cocktail.

Tips for Making the Perfect Clean Aviation Cocktail

Expert tip – incoming! As shown in the video, use an Atomizer to spray the herbal notes of Pernod Absinthe into your glass. This technique allows you to capture the essence of Absinthe without the high alcohol content, while still getting all the wonderful herbal aromas and flavors in your drink. 

Simply fill the Atomizer with Pernod Absinthe then spray the inside of a chilled Cocktail Glass four or five times before you pour the liquid from your mix into the glass to infuse your cocktail with the distinctive herbal notes.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for Clean Aviation

Chill Your Cocktail Glass
Put your glass in the freezer 20 to 30 minutes to ensure that it’s sufficiently chilled. 20-30 minutes is usually adequate for any drink that’s served without ice.

One Cherry, Per Drink
A single Maraschino Cherry per drink is the perfect garnish for the Aviation. A Maraschino Cherry accentuates and embodies the sweet and fruity notes of Maraschino Liqueur in a visually appealing way. Simply drop one Maraschino Cherry directly into your drink and voila!