Clean Aviation

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (68 ratings)
  • Clean Aviation Image

    Clean Aviation

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Clean Aviation image

Photographed in an UB Retro Coupe 1910

Ingredients:
1 3⁄4 oz Ketel One Vodka
1⁄2 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1⁄4 oz Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette Liqueur
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 dash La Fée Parisienne absinthe
1⁄4 oz Chilled water
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Named in homage to the laudable quest for a clean aviation fuel, this is a classic Aviation (usually based on gin) but made with vodka and given a touch of extra complexity with the merest hint of absinthe.

View readers' comments

History:

Created in November 2020 by yours truly as a result of a comment left by Julie Kovar on our Aviation page.

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Nutrition:

One serving of Clean Aviation contains 174 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 20.68% alc./vol. (20.68° proof)
  • 20.2 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 9 comments for Clean Aviation.
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Ruth Harvey’s Avatar Ruth Harvey
10th April at 20:30
I prefer this to the classic Aviation. It's less perfumed and more balanced.
1
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Tuber Magnatum’s Avatar Tuber Magnatum
21st February at 23:30
Made this again and was less keen on it tonight. I agree with Charl Engela's comment below that it is lacking without the gin and therefore for me was a little too crème de violette forward. Also, maybe as it is end of week, I was looking for something a little stronger tasting, so as per John Carr's comment, maybe a tad too much water even with "dry" ice.
1
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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
19th February at 01:37
Made this cocktail again. Still love it. Since we are both big absinthe fans, we added a spritz of absinthe on the top of the cocktail before serving. Added a lovely light herbal smell and flavour.
0
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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
21st September 2024 at 15:08
A very nice aviation. Clean really describes it. And a very pleasant minerality from the vodka. I always serve aviations in a martini glass, as I feel is suited to the 1920s streamlined and modernist aesthetic of the drink.
1
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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
21st September 2024 at 15:11
I may have over shaken and increased dilution, but I feel 5ml added water would be sufficient here.
1
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Jasmine Lee’s Avatar Jasmine Lee
17th September 2024 at 03:25
Instead of adding the absinthe to the shaker, I did an absinthe rinse, inspired by my love of the Sunflower cocktail. Turned out well!
2
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Rob Gray’s Avatar Rob Gray
29th October 2023 at 23:42
Lovely variation on the classic Aviation.

Given that we are in the season of Halloween, I would propose the following variation:

Hounds Black Vodka in place of the traditional clear, and a dusting of purple edible glitter, for effect. Variation name: Fly By Night.

Thank you for maintaining this site; I cannot count the number of people I have referred here for the best in cocktails.
2
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Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
30th October 2023 at 06:56
Many thanks for your kind words and for your suggestion.
0
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Charl Engela’s Avatar Charl Engela
18th August 2023 at 17:25
Very nice indeed, but I think I prefer this with a citrusy gin rather than vodka. I also think I put in more than a dash of absinthe which is quite easy to do with the La Fée bottle with the integrated spout. Less next time.
3
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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
12th August 2021 at 23:45
Of all the Aviation cocktails, this one is my first choice. Simple and clean. Good blending of flavours.
2
reply
Beverly Stanton’s Avatar Beverly Stanton
22nd November 2020 at 21:29
Very nice variation of an Aviation. The hint of licorice really was lovely.
2
reply
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