Aviation Gin Cranberry Blood Orange Release 2026
Aviation American Gin just broke a two-decade streak of playing it safe. The Ryan Reynolds-backed brand dropped its first-ever flavored expression—Cranberry & Blood Orange—landing nationwide as a permanent lineup addition in February 2026. This marks Aviation's debut move into the flavored gin category since the brand launched, layering tart cranberry and bold blood orange over its botanical foundation to create an expression designed for low-effort, high-impact cocktails.
What's in the Bottle
Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange Flavored Gin combines the brand's signature botanical blend with juicy cranberry and citrus-forward blood orange. The expression is available now across the United States as a permanent portfolio addition, not a limited drop. Aviation positions this as an accessible upgrade for home bartenders—designed to work across multiple serves without requiring a full cocktail kit. The brand suggests signature serves including the Bloody Good Mimosa, Blimey Fizz, and Crimson Cosmo, though the spirit's versatility extends beyond those three.
The launch includes a promotional video starring co-owner Ryan Reynolds, leaning into the brand's humor-first marketing approach. The expression carries the same 97-point Wine Enthusiast rating lineage as Aviation's core gin, though this flavored variant represents a departure from the bartender-distiller collaboration ethos that originally defined the brand in Portland.
Why Aviation Waited Two Decades to Drop a Flavored Gin
This release signals Aviation's shift from craft purist positioning to mainstream category play. For 20+ years, the brand hung its hat on a single, unchanging recipe—a botanical-forward American gin style that differentiated it from London Dry dominance. That approach helped Aviation become one of the highest-rated gins globally, but it also limited the brand's ability to capture casual drinkers who want flavor without mixology skills.
Enter Diageo. Since acquiring Aviation, the spirits giant has nudged the brand toward accessibility and occasion expansion. Cranberry & Blood Orange is a calculated move into the flavored spirits segment, which continues to outpace traditional categories in growth. The cranberry-citrus combo taps into familiar flavor territory—think Cosmopolitan nostalgia meets brunch-ready versatility—while maintaining enough botanical backbone to avoid the overly sweet trap that plagues some flavored gins. It's Aviation's play for the weekend host, the casual mixer, and anyone intimidated by classic cocktail ratios.
Where This Fits in the Flavored Gin Landscape
Flavored gin is no longer a novelty category. Brands from Tanqueray to Hendrick's have leaned into fruit and botanical infusions, proving there's appetite beyond the core expression. Aviation's entry comes late to the party, but the cranberry-blood orange pairing offers something distinct in a field crowded with berry and elderflower variants. The tart-sweet balance and citrus punch position this as a mixer's gin—built for spritzes, Collins variations, and brunch cocktails rather than sipping neat.
Diageo's backing means Aviation has the distribution muscle to place this in chains and independent retailers simultaneously, a luxury most craft distilleries lack when launching flavor extensions. The permanent status matters too—this isn't a seasonal or limited batch. Aviation is betting that cranberry and blood orange have year-round appeal, not just holiday relevance. Whether that gamble pays off depends on how bartenders and home mixers adopt it beyond the initial novelty window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange Gin?
Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange Flavored Gin is available nationwide as of February 2026 at major spirits retailers, liquor stores, and online platforms that carry Aviation products. Check your local retailer or visit aviationgin.com for specific availability in your area. This is a permanent addition to the lineup, not a limited release, so it should remain in stock long-term.
What cocktails work best with Aviation Cranberry Blood Orange Gin?
Aviation recommends the Bloody Good Mimosa, Blimey Fizz, and Crimson Cosmo as signature serves for this expression. The cranberry-citrus profile also works well in gin and tonics, spritzes, Collins variations, and brunch cocktails. The flavored gin is designed to simplify cocktail-making, so it shines in two- to three-ingredient builds that don't require extensive muddling or multiple modifiers.
How much does Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange Gin cost?
Pricing for Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange Flavored Gin typically aligns with Aviation's standard gin expression, which retails between $28-$35 for a 750ml bottle depending on your market and retailer. Expect this flavored variant to sit in the same range or slightly above, positioning it as a premium flavored gin option rather than a budget mixer.
Is Aviation Cranberry Blood Orange a limited edition release?
No, Aviation Cranberry & Blood Orange is a permanent addition to the Aviation portfolio, not a limited or seasonal release. Diageo and Aviation positioned this as an ongoing expression designed to expand the brand's reach and create new drinking occasions year-round, rather than a one-time collaboration or holiday-specific product.
Does Ryan Reynolds own Aviation Gin?
Ryan Reynolds is a co-owner of Aviation American Gin, having acquired an ownership stake in 2018. In 2020, Diageo purchased Aviation Gin (including Reynolds' stake) for an initial $610 million, with potential earnouts bringing the total to up to $1 billion. Reynolds remains actively involved in the brand's marketing and creative direction as part of the acquisition agreement.