Lillet Blanc
French aperitif wine — honeyed, lightly bitter, floral.
Lillet Blanc is an aperitif wine from Podensac in Bordeaux, made from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes blended with citrus-peel liqueurs and aged briefly in oak. The modern formula, sweeter and less quinine-heavy than the pre-1986 'Kina Lillet,' carries honeyed citrus and a faint bitter edge. A Corpse Reviver #2 depends on Lillet's delicate sweetness to balance gin, lemon, and Cointreau. Cocchi Americano is a drier, more bitter stand-in closer to the historical Kina Lillet.
History
Lillet was created in 1872 as 'Kina Lillet,' containing quinine that gave it a distinct bitter edge. In 1986 the company removed most of the quinine to make the modern, sweeter Lillet Blanc.
Common uses
Corpse Reviver #2, Vesper.
Cocktails that use Lillet Blanc
- Corpse Reviver #2 — Equal parts gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon, and an absinthe rinse