With Bastille Day coming up on July 14th, my tastes turn to my French summer apéro of choice – Lillet Blanc. Ironically, it was not while living in France that I first tasted Lillet and became an instant convert. On the contrary, it was in Brooklyn, NY.
Influenced by the strong French community, every Bastille Day portions of Smith Street are closed off. There are pétanque tournaments (French for Bocce Ball) and a street fair. July 2008 was blistering hot and it was on that fated Bastille Day on Smith Street that I met Lillet Blanc. Since then, Lillet and I have spent many summer apéros together.
Lillet (pronounced “lee-lay”) has been made in a town south of Bordeaux since the 1800s. Lillet is a blend of wine and fruit liqueurs that have been aged in oak vats for 12 months. The orange-based liqueur has a taste of honey, pine resin, and herbs. It has a nice viscosity that comes from the alcohol that is added to fortify the wine. At 17% alcohol and packing a cooling smoothness, Lillet is dangerously good. Serve it very well chilled, in a wine glass with a twist of citrus and call it a happy day.
Lillet has also traditionally come in Blanc and Rouge, but has recently added a Rosé version whose base is rosé wine. Try all three and find the one you like most. The blanc is the driest, and my personal Lillet of choice.
For those of you who are more daring, there are many cocktails that use Lillet as a base. James Bond in Casino Royale famously ordered a Vesper – a Gin Martini that replaces the vermouth with Lillet Blanc. Seriouseats.com has a great recipe. Click here.
So sport a Lillet drink this French Independence Day and ring a toast of “let them drink Lillet!”
Cover image “Vesper Time” by Charles Starrett is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. Other Images are personal photos.
