Creme de violette
The flavor profile is floral and sweet and suggestive of the violet sweets popular in the early to mid 20th century. Its known making begins back to the early 19th century when it was served with dry vermouth or alone.
Crème de violette is the precursor to the liqueurs Parfait d'Amour and the American variation, Creme Yvette, both of which are decidedly different with pronounced vanilla and/or citrus flavors. When crème de violette is not available it is possible to use the Parfait Amour or creme Yvette to replicate the violet color in a drink.
It is a core ingredient in the Aviation cocktail. The rarity of crème de violette emerged as a plot element in an episode of The Avengers in 1965 entitled "Two's A Crowd".
Creme de violette is also great with
Aviation
The Aviation is a classic gin cocktail from the 20th century, and it first appeared in Huge Enslinn's book Recipes for Mixed Drinks in 1916 in New York City. In the following decades, the drink disappeared because one of the drink’s primary ingredients, crème de violette liqueur, vanished from the market during the 1960s. Nevertheless, the aviation cocktail is a fantastic classic cocktail with a long and rocky past. It is a gorgeous cocktail to glance at and the most famous recipe to feature crème de violette. The floral taste is also stunning, and it needs just a few ingredients. The mixture of gin, cherry, violets, and lemon offers a fascinating scent, that is unique in the cocktail world. The Aviation is a traditional cocktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice. Some recipes omit the crème de violette. The cocktail combines gin, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lemon juice alongside that crème de violette, creating a unique, floral cocktail. Gin provides a sturdy base, while maraschino liqueur lends its trademark bittersweet cherry notes, and lemon adds necessary acidity. Crème de violette is exceedingly flower-like, so it's important to use it sparingly and measure your ingredients.