Lillet

A light crisp aperitif with hints of citrus and herbs made to be served chilled over ice.

I first tried Lillet at a “Feed the Hungry '' charity event in New York City. At the time I was the Chef at The Knickerbocker restaurant, a steakhouse in NYC known for its giant T-bone steaks. Lillet had a table there and was serving. I returned over and over again all night long! Since then it has been one of my favorite beverages. I just wish that more restaurants served it. It’s always my first question when I go out to dinner.

Lillet is an aperitif from France that is a blend of white Bordeaux wine and citrus Liqueur. It is traditionally enjoyed on the rocks with a slice of orange/lemon or as an ingredient in many cocktails. There is also a red version, Lillet Rouge which is also lovely.

Lillet Blanc has a crisp light flavor with subtle floral, herbal and citrus hints. It is well balanced and not too sweet.  The perfect elegant cocktail to serve at the start of a dinner party or celebration.

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What ingredients do you need for Lillet?

• Ice
• Rocks Glass
• Lillet Blanc
• Valencia Orange
• Splash of soda (optional)

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The Recipe…

Fill rock glass 3/4 full of ice cubes. Pour in Lillet to cover ice. Garnish with an orange slice. Add a splash of soda, if you like.

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Recipe Tips:

• There are many cocktails that are named with Lillet such as The Vesper created by James Bond or The french connection which includes Bourbon or The lillet spritzer.

Storing tips:

• After opening a bottle of Lillet it must be kept in the refrigerator. White Lillet will hold for up to 2 months. Red Lillet will last 1 month.