Lillet - A drink you will love.

Lillet is favorite French aperitif that is delicious alone, on the rocks and in cocktails.

It has always been a favorite of mine and I was surprised to learn that many people are not familiar with this wonderful drink.

It is produced in a blanc and a rouge.

I was introduced to Lillet 30 years ago on a balmy spring day by a woman whose flowing blond hair glistened like the white gold color of the drink we sipped. 

Lillet is delicious served cold or on ice with a slice of orange. Lime and mint also are delicious with this perfect spring and summer sipper.

A favorite cocktail is inspired by the famous James Bond "Shaken Not Stirred" Martini from Casino Royale.  I shake premium vodka with a splash of Lillet Blanc and add a lemon twist. Delicious.

More cocktail recipes can be found at Lillet.fr

One beautiful dish using Lillet Rouge is Strawberry Minestone from Bea's Kitchen.

I have to share her words "

Minestrone à ma façon

Minestrone in a sweet dessert? Why not?

L’apéritif is a well observed, celebrated time in the French cultural life. We love our apéritif. You are often invited to people’s house to share a drink with amuse-bouches and hors d’oeuvres before a meal, lunch or dinner, and this is commonly referred to “prendre l’apéritif“. Or short l’apéro (in case you heard this word and had no clue what it was).

-Venez prendre l’apéro avec nous! (Come to our house to have a drink)
-Avec plaisir (We would love to)

And so French people spent hours à prendre l’apéro, at people’s house or commonly in bistros , PMU, or  bars. In my home village, le bistro was always full of its regular customers who came every day to have their apéro (in France, bistros are places where people drink. Sometimes there is food, but the point is to go to the bistro to have a drink). If you happen to be in the South of France where the sun always shines (because it does, doesn’t it?) you can envision lots of cute and quaint villages where locals take l’apéro en jouant à la pétanque (les boules), outside on the place du village (village square). I would actually be curious to know if anyone has ever run statistics as to finding out how much time is spent à prendre l’apéro. After all, nowadays, there are statistics about any possible thing. I do know that in my family, l’apéro is quite a well-observed time and I have seen many people come to our house for that sole purpose.

Bea

Now of course, the word apéritif exists in the English language, and I am certainly not teaching you anything here, as you already knew what it was I am sure.

But.

So what is the point you are thinking?

Did you know Lillet?

Yes?

No?

If so, do you, like me, love Lillet?
Some people say that it is a girl’s drink, and the truth is that I am a girl and I am very fond of it! So they might be right. But maybe not. And it does not make any difference because I think that, in case you do not know the drink, you should definitely try it.

Lillet

Lillet is an apéritif from Bordeaux, which exists in two flavours.

White Lillet = golden colour, shimmery, floral nose, honey, candied orange, pine resin, lime, fresh mint, distinct taste, generous, intense, aromatic long.

Red Lillet = ruby colour, raspberry nose, blackberry, cherry, vanilla, cinnamom, cardamom, ginger, powerful palate, aromatic, solid.

I particularly like the white one, as opposed to the red. Served chilled, on the rocks with a slice of lemon or orange, some people also drink it with ginger and fresh mint."