Why Aviations?

I do not remember much – I mean my memory is a piece of crap. But there are some things I get lucky with, and can remember like it was yesterday. For me, one such instance was my first official ‘Craft Cocktail’. I had had liquor drinks before that I considered good, but I was a beer snob / whiskey guy at the time I had it, and it changed me forever. It was the Aviation cocktail, at a bar simply called ‘Garage’ in Austin TX with my brother. This bar was literally built into a parking garage, and if there was no sign, you’d never know that it was there. There is lore that it may have even been a speak-easy at one time, but I was out of my element, so I didn’t ask too many questions. Great bar if you can get there.

Image result for garage austin tx

Image result for garage austin tx

My brother started talking up these ‘Aviations’ and how they were great, and how after 2 of them you could start getting in trouble. Again, at this point, I was sourcing killer IPAs and going for Whiskey on the rocks, but my brother has good taste, so why not check it out. I searched the internet for a picture that depicted what I got at Garage:

The color led me to believe it would be some kind of ‘berry’ flavor, but after my first sip, my pallet was shocked. At first I said ‘what is this? it tastes weird, I don’t know if….’ then I took another sip and it was over! It was crazy good. It was tart, sweet, old-timey, and went down way too fast. I don’t know what went into it, and I don’t know if I cared – I just wanted another one. From that point forward, if I found myself in a place that had ‘specialty cocktails’, I would ask for it, but usually no one knew how to make it, and neither did I. In Buffalo, the craft cocktail scene was just beginning, and I just didn’t know where to go, so I kind of lost interest in the search, and stuck to my Beer and Whiskey guns.

It wasn’t until a Buffalo Restaurant week, that I found a hidden gem in Lackawanna: ‘Winfield’s Pub‘. This younger guy was whipping up cocktails that looked like nothing I had ever seen before, and he was super cool. Food was yummy, and the beer selection was pretty good for that neck of the woods. I didn’t try a cocktail that first time I went, but I regretted it after I left. I went again about a week later, but this time, I was there just for the drinks. I chatted the dude up as much as I could, his name is Thomas, and every cocktail I tried on his menu was delicious and a unique experience. One of the drinks on his menu reminded me of an aviation, but was different – including cabernet soaked hibiscus leaves. This fulfilled my desire for aviations, so I didn’t even think to ask for one, because I didn’t know if I would insult him if I didn’t want one of his personal creations. Again, I was new to the craft cocktail game, so I didn’t know the customs. Eventually I got comfortable and he obliged my request.

Since then, I’ve introduced a few people to the cocktail, and have a small group of friends that love the cocktail. When we have aviations, we’ll text pictures of them to each other, and say whether it was good or not. We actually have created a facebook group that we use now..  find it here: ( Link Here ).  It is DEFINITELY possible to have a bad aviation. There are a few simple rules if you’re going to make aviations that you should follow. I’m not going to tell you what ingredients to use, I’m not going to say make it clear, purple or blue – but please follow these simple rules if you’re going to serve me an Aviation.

#1 No ICE: Yes, shake it vigorously in a shaker with ice, and you can certainly pour it into a chilled glass if you must, but this cocktail is meant to be served neat. Here’s a picture of one that came on ice. It was good, but never on ice folks..  never.

Rule #2 – Watch the color – A little bit of color is good. My preference is the blue. I’m not afraid of the purple, but the color can be over done.  A lot of color usually indicates that you’ve gone too sweet with the drink. It’s not bad, but it’s not right – I’m not drinking a freezy pop. In all fairness, the one featured below was the girl’s first time ever making one – and it wasn’t too bad, but if you’re going to use the stuff that turns it purple, this would have been way too much sweetness.

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Rule #3 – If you’re not going to add color, nail the flavor. I have had the clear-ish ones that have been great – and I’ve had clear ones that were terrible. Here’s a picture of a clear-ish that nailed it: (marble & rye)

Here’s a picture of one that didn’t: You can see how they both look good – but the one below is trash – nail the flavor.

Rule #4: Gimmie that Luxardo. High quality cherries have flooded the scene in the craft cocktail industry. They’re the present at the end of the drink. When I’m paying $10+ for this cocktail, I want that prize. You owe me that. Here are two Aviations that killed it on all fronts, but sadly didn’t end with the prize.

Here are two that killed it that DID end with a prize.  (pardon the middle finger)

And here are some more aviations:

So get out there and try an Aviation – but be ready for the blowback when you all of sudden start craving that old-timey flavors and can’t find them. Keep trying them – they’re delicious even when they’re made wrong.

Cheers.

jw

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