Lillet cocktails featuring Lillet Blanc, Lillet Rouge and Rosé, which include Lillet Vive, Reverse Vesper Martini and Lillet Citrosé.
Lillet Cocktails
Enter the world of Lillet and you’ll find a universe of the brand that embodies an era of elegance, femininity, style and joie de vivre. Retro stylish posters which are the works of artist Mathieu Forichon feature nostalgic and glamorous images of travel and women that convey the essence of Lillet.
Lillet is a French aperitif created by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet in 1872 in the village of Podensac in Bordeaux. The drink is made from 85% wine and 15% liqueur with quinine and orange peel.
Before Ian Fleming’s James Bond made it popular in Casino Royale with the creation of the Vesper Martini, Lillet was used during World War II by the French to bribe American soldiers in return for sugar and basic ingredients. As such, Lillet became very well known in the USA, and later in 1973 led to the launch of Lillet Rouge for the US market.
But it is beyond doubt that the Bond movie re-popularised the brand. Sales soared at the time when Casino Royale was released, Audrey Delagarde, Lillet Area Manager explains during her visit to Sydney. The interest in the aperitif led to the creation of the Reverse Vesper Martini, swapping the 3 measures of gin with 3 measures of Lillet Blanc.
Lillet Blanc is made of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, and Lillet Rouge is made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the former gives it the tannins. Both are aged in oak barrels for 6-12 months which also adds to more structure to the palate. Lillet Rosé is a blend of wines made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillion grapes using the same liqueur base as Lillet Blanc.
Lillet is best kept refrigerated and sealed with a wine air pump once opened. It should be used within three weeks so enjoy it chilled on ice or in any of the Lillet cocktails below.
Lillet Cocktails
Lillet Vive
- 50ml Lillet Blanc
- 10ml tonic water
Topping: 1 thin slice of cucumber, 1 strawberry, 1 sprig of mint.
Serve in glass with Lillet White 4-5 ice cubes.
Add the tonic and garnish with cucumber, strawberry and mint.
Reverse Vesper Martini – Lillet Cocktails
- 90ml Lillet Blanc
- 60ml vodka
- 15ml gin
Served with lemon peel
Lillet Citrosé
- 50ml Lillet Rosé
- 10ml lemonade
Sprig of mint, slice of lemon, ice.
Serve Lillet Rosé in a glass with ice.
Add the lemonade.
Garnish with mint and lemon
This article was originally published on 24 May 2013 our sister website Gourmantic.
