Citrusy and spicy, with a honeyed texture and the golden color of a summer sunset, Lillet Blanc is the perfect pre-dinner patio drink for a lazy June day.
Produced in Bordeaux since 1872, this classic French wine-based aperitif is deliciously refreshing all on its own – either served chilled with a twist of orange, or poured over ice with a splash of club soda. It also pairs nicely with vodka and gin, giving a dash of zesty, bittersweet citrus flavor to summer cocktails.
Available in red as well as white formulations (“rouge” and “blanc”), and weighing in at 17% alcohol, Lillet is in many ways comparable to vermouth. So it will come as no surprise that one of the white version's most famous cocktailian uses is in a Martini. A James Bond Martini, no less.
A Bit-Part in Casino Royale
In Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel, Casino Royale (and the 2006 film of the same name), Bond instructs the bartender to make a drink of the secret agent’s own invention, consisting of “three measures of Gordon’s [gin], one of vodka, [and] half a measure of Kina Lillet.” He names it the “Vesper” after his love interest at the time.
We shook up a batch and found the resulting cocktail to be a smooth spin on the classic vermouth-and-gin (or vodka) Martini, brightened by subtle citrus notes:
James Bond Casino Royale (a.k.a. "Vesper") Martini (adapted from the Lillet website)
makes 2 drinks
1/2 ounce Lillet blanc (white Lillet)
3 ounces gin
1 ounce vodka
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and strain into cocktail glasses. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
Have you tried Lillet?
Related: The Celluloid Pantry: Sazeracs and Live and Let Die (1973)
(Images: Nora Maynard)
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These are delicious. We include bitters and a big chunk of lemon peel in ours, and always make them when watching old Bond movies. I find them smoother and easier going down than traditional martinis...
Lillet Blanc is one of my all-time favorite aperetifs! It is also very good splashed into champagne.
Would one need to go to a liquor store to find Lillet or is it considered a wine and thus available at the grocery? I'm in WA state if that helps...
cleansimple - they have it at some grocery stores (ballard/central/metro mkt if you're in seattle...) but tis several bux more than at the liquor store.
I am looking for a mixed drink recipe which includes fresh ginger fresh lemons club soda and vodka. Thks
Lillet Blanc is really not the same as Kina Lillet. Cocchi Americano is what you need to use to come close to the original vesper.