What would Amelia Earhart drink?

Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer/badass Jonathan Gold recently wrote a piece in Gourmet magazine about the reappearance of the Victorian-era liqueur Crème de Violette after a decades-long lapse in production. It’s the linchpin to the classic Aviation cocktail, alongside gin and Luxardo maraschino liqueur. The Aviation is on the menu at the Shady Lady Saloon—proving that Sacramento is now on the cocktail cutting edge. With three kinds of liquor (cut with a squeeze of lemon), it packs quite a gintastic punch; but due to the Crème de Violette, it has a dainty purple tinge. Shady Lady uses the Rothman & Winter brand, which is produced in Austria from a “careful maceration of Queen Charlotte and March violets.” Co-owner Garrett Van Vleck agreed with Gold’s statement that the cocktail is “notoriously difficult to balance” and said some people add the Crème de Violette with an eyedropper to control the syrupy taste. He also said that it’s “not for everyone,” but thanks to Shady Lady, you can decide for yourself tonight.