Lillet, Lillet Blanc, Lillet Rouge, Lillet Rose, How to use Lillet, Lillet Cocktails, Cocktail Recipes, French, Aperitif, Bordeaux, Wine, Blend, Recommendations, What Bartenders Drink, What Sommeliers Drink, Insider Tips, Recipes, Summer Cocktails, Spring Cocktails, Orange Juice, Sangria, Biter Truth Jerry Bitters, Lime Juice, Spiced Demerara Syrup, Benedictine, Pavot Cocktail, Hendricks Gin, Raspberries, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup
As the warmer weather glides in and dreams of dining al fresco fill our heads, one of the best starting points to satisfying these urges is the aperitif. Lillet aperitif wines have been jumpstarting people’s nights since the late 1800s. These fortified wines are a blend of Bordeaux wines, citrus liqueur and quinine.
Since Maison Lillet has declared May 16th as National Aperitif Day, it’s the perfect excuse to give these three cocktails a try.
Lillet Aperitif Cocktail Recipes
May 15, 2013
Celebrate National Aperitif Day
Lillet Cocktails
Classic Aperitif
Recipe courtesy of Lillet
Yield
1 drink
Glass: Rocks Glass
Garnish: Orange Twist
Ice: Cubes
Ingredients
- 3 oz Lillet Blanc or Rosé
Directions
1) Pour Lillet Blanc or Rosé over ice.
4) Garnish with an orange twist.
Lillet Rosé Pavot Cocktail
Recipe courtesy of Lillet
1 drink
Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Edible Poppy
Ingredients
- 1 oz Hendricks Gin
- 2 oz Lillet Rosé
- 6 Fresh Raspberries
- 0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Directions
1) Muddle raspberries.
2) Combine ingredients and shake well.
3) Strain up into a coupe glass.
4) Garnish with an edible poppy.
Lillet Rouge Sangria
Recipe courtesy of Lillet
1 drink
Glass: Wine Glass
Garnish: Fruit
Ice: Cubes
Ingredients
- Diced fresh fruit
- Orange Juice
- Lavender-Honey Syrup
- Lemon Lime Soda
- 2 dashes Bitter Truth Jerry Bitters
- 3 oz Lillet Rouge
- 0.5 oz Lime Juice (fresh)
- 0.5 oz Spiced Demerara Syrup
- 0.25 oz Benedectine
Directions
1) Marinate diced fresh fruit in orange juice and lavender-honey syrup.
2) Shake bottom 5 ingredients in shaker to aerate.
3) Top with Lemon-Lime soda in vessel then strain over rocks into wine glass.
4) Garnish with fresh fruit.
More Cocktails Using Lillet
- The Wrong Aisle by bartender Jim Meehan
- The Mezze Gimlet by Mezze Bistro + Bar
F.E.D. Recs on the Go
Download the F.E.D. iPhone app and eating and drinking recommendations around the country from other bartenders, chefs, sommeliers and food artisans.
Lillet Rouge Sangria & Lillet Rosé Pavot Cocktail
Tweets
Lillet Recommended By
- Bartender Brooks Reitz of FIG in Charleston and Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.
- Bartender Maxwell Britten of Maison Premiere in Brooklyn, NY
Share
Share
As the warmer weather glides in and dreams of dining al fresco fill our heads, one of the best starting points to satisfying these urges is the aperitif. Lillet aperitif wines have been jumpstarting people’s nights since the late 1800s. These fortified wines are a blend of Bordeaux wines, citrus liqueur and quinine. The actual wines differ by bottling. The Blanc and the recently launched Reserve Jean de Lillet 2009 are made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle; the Rouge is based on Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc; and the Rosé is a blend of both white and red varietals.
For the uninitiated, Lillet Blanc is golden-orange and is bright with citrus flavor, fresh, floral and slightly sweet. The Rosé is slightly richer with berry flavors, but still has a brightness and freshness. The Rouge, as you’d expect, is more robust with dark fruits. The new Reserve bottling is a more complex and fuller version of the Blanc using wine from Sauternes.
Since Maison Lillet has declared May 16th as National Aperitif Day, it’s the perfect excuse to give these three cocktails a try.
