If you’re fond of gin cocktails, you’re bound to be familiar with the Negroni, the White Lady and the Tom Collins. Just as classic, but a little more rarefied, is the violet-scented Aviation, as prepared with dash by Luca in the bar and members’ club at Quo Vadis in Soho. He describes it as being similar to a Floridita daiquiri, with gin and lemon replacing the rum and lime.

Luca uses Fifty Pounds gin, a dry, very London, junipery gin. (Don’t worry – it doesn’t cost £50.) He mixes his Aviation so that the floral element is in the background, and serves it in a pony glass – a coupe would do just as well. We are told that this classic is frequently ordered at Quo Vadis, and not just by ladies. We’d like to thank Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes for bringing it to our attention.

Luca’s Aviation

Ingredients:

  • 50ml gin
  • 20ml lemon juice
  • 15ml maraschino liqueur
  • Three dashes violet liqueur
  • 1

    Start with the sweet and sour. Mix together the lemon juice and the maraschino liqueur.

  • 2

    Add three dashes of violet liqueur (about 5ml)

  • 3

    Add the gin…

  • 4

    …then shake over ice.

  • 5

    Finally, strain into a chilled coupe or pony glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Quo Vadis, 26–29 Dean Street, London W1 (www.quovadissoho.co.uk; 020 7437 9585)