
Clean Aviation
Average
Sweet & Sour
3 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
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 THE CLEAN AVIATION Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need

Boston Shaker

Jigger

Citrus Press

Fine Strainer

Hawthorne Strainer
How to Mix
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Place a Cocktail Glass in the freezer for anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
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Using a Citrus Press, squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice and then pour it into the Cocktail Shaker
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Maraschino Liqueur into the Shaker.
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Measure Absolut Vodka then pour into the Shaker.
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Add Ice Cubes and shake vigorously until chilled.
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Take your Cocktail Glass out of the freezer and spray the inside of the Glass with Pernod Absinthe.
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Using a Fine Strainer and a Hawthorne Strainer, fine strain the cocktail into your Glass
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Garnish with a single Maraschino Cherry dropped straight into the Glass.
Watch Rico show you how to make the Clean Aviation cocktail
What is a Clean Aviation?
The Clean Aviation is a vodka cocktail created by Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador Ricardo Dynan (aka Rico). It’s a vodka variation of the Aviation cocktail, which is made with gin.
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
The cocktail recipe for the Clean Aviation 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. However, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan 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
The Clean Aviation is a modern variation of the classic Gin-based Aviation cocktail. Go ahead and compare the two! Discover our recipe for a classic Aviation cocktail.
- Blue Moon
In the video on this page, in addition to showing how to make a Clean Aviation cocktail, 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 that? Learn how to make a Blue Moon cocktail.
Tips for Making the Perfect Clean Aviation Cocktail
Get those herbal notes into your glass. 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 and outside 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 for 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!
Clean Aviation FAQ
Yes, you can and that’s the recipe you’re looking at right here! A Clean Aviation is a vodka twist on the gin cocktail, the Aviation.
An Absinthe rinse involves swirling absinthe and crushed ice around a cocktail glass, then discarding the excess. This technique adds a subtle anise flavor and aroma, enhancing the drink’s complexity without overpowering the main ingredients. It’s a straightforward way to add a new dimension and complexity to your cocktail.
Alternatively, use an atomizer to spray the inside of the glass with absinthe, which is what Rico does to make the Clean Aviation cocktail.
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