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Intro

This cocktail recipe is an easy variation on the normally gin-based Aviation cocktail, and the majority of the changes for this adaptation are seen in the proportions of the ingredients.  This is because balancing the flavor of a gin is significantly different from balancing the flavor of the strong and smoky taste of a mezcal.

As should be a given in all my relevant cocktails, when I call for a maraschino cherry I do NOT mean those neon-red cherries you used to get in Shirley Temples as a kid; those are just little bombs of artificial flavor...Try the Luxardo brand or my go-to at home, a brand called Fabbri — you’ll probably recognize it because of its distinct blue and white ceramic jar.  Both brands are easy to find at Whole Foods or even off Amazon.  The maraschino liquid called for in this recipe just uses the syrup the Fabbri cherries are stored in — another great reason to finally pick up a jar of these delicious cherries if you don’t already have a bottle!

The name “Aviato” is a joke referring to the TV show, Silicon Valley.  It’s a perfect blend of a hilarious reference to the TV show + to the original name of this cocktail (the “Aviation”), so I couldn’t resist!  Here’s a clip just in case you don’t know what I’m talking about or if you just want to have a laugh.

For each cocktail:

• 2 oz mezcal (I use Del Maguey’s Vida mezcal)

• ½ oz violet liqueur (aka créme de violette)

• ¼ oz maraschino syrup

• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

• Garnish: maraschino cherry at the bottom of the glass or on a skewer

For each cocktail:

1. Add the mezcal, violet liqueur, maraschino syrup, and fresh lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with standard ice and shake until the shaker is nice and chilly

2. If you’re just dropping in the cherry for garnish, add your cherry to your glasses and then strain the cocktail into your cocktail glass (preferably a coupe or Nick and Nora glass); if you’re adding the cherry on a skewer, add after you strain your cocktail into the glass

3. Cheers!

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