From cocktails.com:
The Aviation Cocktail is one of those with a mysterious past. We really don't know who first created it but, according to David Wondrich's Imbibe!, it was first printed in a 1916 book by Hugo Ensslin called Recipes for Mixed Drinks. The drink has remained popular over the years and recently became one of the classics for aficionado imbibers to try.
Until recently, the creme de violette was often left out of the mix, but even the smallest amount of the liqueur adds depth and color to the cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
Dash of creme de violette
Flamed lemon peel for garnish
In a shaker with ice mix the ingredients. Shake vigorously and pour in to martini glass without ice. Take a lemon rind and use a lighter to briefly singe it. Add the rind to the drink.
And enjoy:
This is one of my all-time favorite drinks. It's not as "pink" as the photo lets on. The flash makes it appear so. It's really more purplish.
I drank three of these the other night prior to hanging out with cW. -Again, my apologies for being half in the bag prior to hanging out :)
Good time.