South of Bordeaux, in the village of Podensac, the Lillet family has since 1872 blended local white wine with the peel of sweet and bitter oranges. The result is an aperitif that has since found a permanent place behind bars worldwide.
Expert's Description
Lillet Blanc Vermouth is a White Vermouth from the Bordeaux region of France, made from a base of white wine from the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, with an alcohol content of 17%.
Brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet founded the house of Lillet Frères in Podensac in 1872 as wine and spirits merchants, and in 1887 they created their first aperitif under the name Kina Lillet, named after the cinchona bark that gave the drink its characteristic bitterness. The recipe is a blend of roughly 85% Bordeaux wines and 15% macerated citrus liqueurs, made from the peel of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and bitter oranges from Haiti. In 1986 the recipe was adjusted to the milder, sweeter style known today as Lillet Blanc, and production still takes place in Podensac.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh and crisp aromas of sweet oranges, almonds and orange peel, with a touch of wax, spicy bark, menthol and sea salt.
Palate
Delicate and lightly sweet, carried by the white wine's acidity, with notes of white fruit, pineapple, citrus and elderflower, joined by nutmeg, cinnamon and a hint of creaminess.
Finish
Well balanced between bitter, sweet and acidic, with a lingering, refreshing citrus note.
Specifications
Distillery: Lillet
Region: Podensac, Bordeaux, France
Type: White Vermouth
ABV: 17%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3057230000253
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled on the rocks with mint and orange, or as the base of a Vesper Martini.
Flavour Profile
Citrus · Floral · Lightly Sweet · Crisp · Elegant
Did you know?
Lillet Blanc is a key ingredient in the Vesper Martini, the cocktail Ian Fleming described in his first James Bond novel from 1953.
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