Method:

Chill your glass

Place a coupe glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail. This helps keep the drink cool and crisp when served.

Prepare the ingredients

Measure out 2 oz gin, ½ oz maraschino liqueur, ¼ oz crème de violette, and ¾ oz fresh lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice makes all the difference, so be sure to squeeze it right before making your drink.

Shake it up

In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients with ice. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds, or until the shaker feels frosty in your hands. From my overall experience, the shaking is crucial to ensure that all the flavors blend smoothly and the drink has a nice chill.

Strain and serve

Remove the ice from your coupe glass if you’ve been chilling it with ice water. Using a fine mesh strainer or a Hawthorne strainer, pour the shaken cocktail into the glass.

Garnish and enjoy

Garnish with a Luxardo cherry for a touch of sweetness or a lemon twist for extra citrusy brightness.

Tips & Variations:

Variations:

For a lighter taste: Reduce the crème de violette to ⅛ oz if you prefer a less floral taste. Some people find it overpowering, and cutting it in half still gives you that lovely lavender hue without dominating the drink.

No maraschino liqueur?: If you can’t find maraschino liqueur, you can substitute it with a similar cherry-flavored liqueur, but keep in mind that it will alter the traditional taste slightly.

Dietary substitutions:

Low-sugar alternative: If you’re watching your sugar intake, swap the maraschino liqueur with a sugar-free cherry-flavored syrup, though the richness of the drink might slightly change.

Gluten-free: All the ingredients in this cocktail are naturally gluten-free, so no need to worry if you have a gluten sensitivity!