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Surely, Shirley Cocktail

The Surely, Shirley Cocktail

A sky-blue gin sour with lemon, cherry, violet, and a fizzy little altitude problem.
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Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • Jigger
  • Hawthorne strainer
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Citrus juicer
  • Bar Spoon
  • coupe or Nick & Nora glass
  • Ice

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces Gin
  • 3/4 ounce Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce Maraschino liqueur
  • 1/4 ounce Creme de violette
  • 1/4 ounce Blue curacao
  • 1/4 ounce Simple syrup
  • 1 Egg white or 3/4 ounce Aquafaba
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 ounce Chilled sparkling wine or club soda OPTIONAL

Instructions
 

  • Add the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, blue curaçao, simple syrup, egg white or aquafaba, and salt to a shaker without ice.
  • Dry shake hard for about 15 seconds to build the foam.
  • Add ice and shake again for another 15 to 20 seconds until very cold.
  • Double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
  • For a lighter, more “cruising altitude” version, gently top with 1 oz of chilled sparkling wine or club soda.
  • Garnish with a brandied cherry dropped into the glass and a lemon twist on the rim.

Notes

Why It Works

The classic Aviation is already the obvious spiritual cocktail for Airplane!, but this version gets a little louder, brighter, and more absurd, which is exactly what the movie deserves. The gin gives it a crisp, botanical backbone. The lemon keeps it sharp. The maraschino adds that slightly nutty cherry sweetness, while the crème de violette gives it a floral lift without turning it into perfume from your grandmother’s haunted vanity.
The blue curaçao is the little idiot genius move. It gives the drink a brighter sky-blue color and a touch of orange sweetness, making it feel more playful than the standard Aviation. The egg white or aquafaba creates a cloud-like foam on top, because subtlety can go sit in coach.