What do Taylor Swift, James Bond & Hannibal Lecter have in common?
Lillet, of course!!! The famed apéritif from Podensac, just outside Bordeaux, is a favorite of celebrities.
Taylor Swift’s current cocktail du jour “French Blonde” has depleted stocks of Lillet across the US this summer. As we’ve observed, Swifties can transform global markets and liqueurs in a millisecond.
Meanwhile, James Bond’s “Vesper Martini” dates back to Ian Fleming’s “Casino Royale” published in 1953. In the novel, Bond tells the barman at the famous Monaco casino, “This drink’s my own invention. I’m going to patent it when I think of a good name.” Later, when Bond meets the gorgeous Vesper Lynd – his one true love (maybe, possibly…) he tells her that his search for a name of this delicious libation is over. Anyway, whatever you think of Bond, Fleming, spy thrillers, etc. it’s a great drink!
Interestingly (if that’s the word) Lillet is favored by another literary protagonist – Dr. Hannibal Lecter – from Thomas Harris’ 1999 novel. Lecter is a gourmet chef (Eeeeek!) and often drinks Lillet with an orange slice as an apéritif.
The point being… Lillet appeals to a broad audience…very broad.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 1872, brothers Raymond and Paul Lillet, liqueur makers and fine wine merchants, founded Maison Lillet in Podensac, a small village south of Bordeaux. Originally, the Lillet family began making jellies and fortified wine with macerated fruit at a time when drinks including quinine became popular.
Quinine was and is still deemed to have health benefits, particularly for treating Malaria. The base white wine of Lillet is macerated with a variety of orange peels from Sevilla Spain, Haiti and other locations. Every one of these peels offers different aromas, bitterness and sweetness. The alcohol level is 17%, so the drink is not so powerful.
Even better, Lillet is very inexpensive (unless Swifties buy out production and increase the cost!) The current price is around $20 a bottle. And once opened, the bottle can be refrigerated for weeks without losing freshness.
There are now red and rosé varieties with a slightly different dosage of sugar and a vintage reserve that, unfortunately, is available only at the winery. Located 15 miles from Bordeaux, the Lillet facilities also house an historic museum displaying old vats and copper kettles once used for drying orange peels and spices — Maison Lillet is definitely worth a visit.
Impressively, Lillet sells over 15 million bottles annually, with Germany and Austria purchasing almost 70% of the production. In both countries, Lillet is served with tonic – a perfect combination. The US and France are the next best consumers.
LILLET COCKTAILS
courtesy of Allie Albanese, founder of Parched around the World
Just in time to celebrate the last days of summer, our favorite mixologist has come up with these tempting concoctions: two Lillet classics and her own Lillet creation, an homage to her part-time home, St. Simons Island. Santé!
FRENCH BLONDE
2 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Gin
1/2 oz Elderflower Liqueur
4 oz Grapefruit Juice
2 dashes Lemon Bitters
Garnish: Lemon twist
Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until the outside of the tin feels icy cold. Double strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish.
VESPER MARTINI
1 1/2 oz Gin
1 oz Vodka
4 oz Lillet Blanc
Garnish: Lemon twist
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all of the ingredients. Shake vigorously until cold and then double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze the lemon twist to express its oils onto the drink’s surface and then run the peel along the edge of the glass before gently dropping it into the drink.
ST. SIMONS GOLDEN BLONDE
2 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz White Rum
3 oz Pineapple Juice
1/8 oz Lime Juice
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Garnish: Pineapple frond
Combine all of the ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until well combined. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.
ALLIE ALBANESE is a writer, photographer and the founder and curator of Parched Around the World, a lifestyle and travel website dedicated to telling stories about the intersection of food, drinks, cultures, and traditions in places near and far.
For nearly a decade, Allie worked as the Beverage Director and Head Bartender of a high-volume cocktail bar, where she spent years honing her mixology skills and learning about the world of craft cocktails. She is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and since 2013 has combined her love of wine with her love of spirits, serving as a wine and cocktail consultant for bars, restaurants, and private events. In addition to creating content for Parched, Allie works as a freelance journalist writing about wine, cocktails, food, and travel for various publications across the United States and abroad.
Allie currently splits her time between Atlanta and St. Simons Island, Georgia, and when not out searching for the next story to tell, she can be found eating, drinking, and photographing her adventures around the world!
