Lillet
Encyclopedia
Lillet is a brand of French aperitif
wine. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle for the Blanc; Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the Rouge) and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs from the peels of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and the peels of bitter green oranges from Haiti. Lillet belongs in a family of aperitif known as tonic wines because of the addition of a liqueur of Chinchona bark from Peru which contains quinine
. Lillet is matured in oak casks and available in red and white versions. While it has been produced since the late 19th century, the current formulation dates from 1986. The formulation was changed only to lower the sugar content; the level of quinine has remained roughly the same.
It must be served well chilled at 6-8°C (43-46°F).
In France it is generally served on ice with a slice of orange, lemon or lime.
In other countries, especially in the USA and UK, it is more often used as a cocktail ingredient or long drink. The best known Lillet cocktails are: The Vesper
, the Corpse reviver #2, the 20th Century
and the Old Etonian
. Recipes appear in cocktail books like The Bartender's Bible by Gary Regan, the Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock
or the Complete World Bartender Guide by Bob Sennett.
, South of Bordeaux
, France
.
The idea of making aperitifs in Bordeaux came from Father Kermann, a doctor who left Brazil
at the beginning of Louis XVI's reign. Back in France
, he settled in Bordeaux, where he produced liqueurs and fortifiers from plants such as quinine
. During that time, Bordeaux became one of the most important places for the European wine business. It also represented France's main harbour for products imported from the Caribbean Islands.
In the "Roaring 20's", Lillet became very famous in France especially due to advertising campaigns. During this period, exports greatly increased in Europe and in Africa, and eventually reached the Americas. Lillet Rouge is specially created for the American market.
's 1953 novel Casino Royale
, James Bond
invents and orders a Kina Lillet martini, which he named the "Vesper"
after his love interest
in the story. He asks the bartender for a dry Martini, a fraction of a second later he adds to the order: "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet." It is present in both the Casino Royale
and Quantum of Solace films. The company has been known to use its appearance in Casino Royale in its promotions. It is also the preferred drink of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the series of books written by Thomas Harris.
Aperitif
Apéritifs and digestifs are alcoholic drinks that are normally served with meals.-Apéritifs:An apéritif is usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. This contrasts with digestifs, which are served after a meal for the purpose of aiding digestion...
wine. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle for the Blanc; Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the Rouge) and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs from the peels of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and the peels of bitter green oranges from Haiti. Lillet belongs in a family of aperitif known as tonic wines because of the addition of a liqueur of Chinchona bark from Peru which contains quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
. Lillet is matured in oak casks and available in red and white versions. While it has been produced since the late 19th century, the current formulation dates from 1986. The formulation was changed only to lower the sugar content; the level of quinine has remained roughly the same.
Serving Lillet
Lillet is an aperitif wine (a blend of Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueur).It must be served well chilled at 6-8°C (43-46°F).
In France it is generally served on ice with a slice of orange, lemon or lime.
In other countries, especially in the USA and UK, it is more often used as a cocktail ingredient or long drink. The best known Lillet cocktails are: The Vesper
Vesper (cocktail)
The Vesper or Vesper Martini is a cocktail that was originally made of gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet.-Origin:The drink was invented and named by fictional secret agent James Bond in the 1953 novel Casino Royale....
, the Corpse reviver #2, the 20th Century
20th Century (cocktail)
A cocktail created in 1939 in connection with the introduction of the new streamlined Dreyfus Hudson Engine which began pulling the Twentieth Century Limited train between New York City and Chicago in 1938...
and the Old Etonian
Old Etonian (cocktail)
An Old Etonian is a gin cocktail which enjoyed great popularity in London, circa 1925. The cocktail takes its name from Eton College and from the college's alumni, who are often referred to as Old Etonians...
. Recipes appear in cocktail books like The Bartender's Bible by Gary Regan, the Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock
Harry Craddock
Harry Craddock was a United States citizen who left during Prohibition and joined the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London, in 1920. Craddock was one of the most famous cocktail barmen of the 1920s and 1930s. Craddock’s “The Savoy Cocktail Book” was published in 1930, and is still in print...
or the Complete World Bartender Guide by Bob Sennett.
History
In 1872, the brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet, distillers and merchants of wines and spirits, founded their company La Maison Lillet in the town of PodensacPodensac
Podensac is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Structures:*Château d´eau Le Corbusier *Château Chavat-References:*...
, South of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The idea of making aperitifs in Bordeaux came from Father Kermann, a doctor who left Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
at the beginning of Louis XVI's reign. Back in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he settled in Bordeaux, where he produced liqueurs and fortifiers from plants such as quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
. During that time, Bordeaux became one of the most important places for the European wine business. It also represented France's main harbour for products imported from the Caribbean Islands.
In the "Roaring 20's", Lillet became very famous in France especially due to advertising campaigns. During this period, exports greatly increased in Europe and in Africa, and eventually reached the Americas. Lillet Rouge is specially created for the American market.
Appearances in popular culture
In Ian FlemingIan Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
's 1953 novel Casino Royale
Casino Royale (novel)
Casino Royale is Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel. It paved the way for a further eleven novels by Fleming himself, in addition to two short story collections, followed by many "continuation" Bond novels by other authors....
, James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
invents and orders a Kina Lillet martini, which he named the "Vesper"
Vesper (cocktail)
The Vesper or Vesper Martini is a cocktail that was originally made of gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet.-Origin:The drink was invented and named by fictional secret agent James Bond in the 1953 novel Casino Royale....
after his love interest
Vesper Lynd
Vesper Lynd is a fictional character featured in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Casino Royale. The name is a pun on "West Berlin". It has been claimed that Fleming based Lynd on the real life Special Operations Executive agent Christine Granville. In the 1967 film of Casino Royale, she is played by...
in the story. He asks the bartender for a dry Martini, a fraction of a second later he adds to the order: "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet." It is present in both the Casino Royale
Casino Royale (2006 film)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
and Quantum of Solace films. The company has been known to use its appearance in Casino Royale in its promotions. It is also the preferred drink of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the series of books written by Thomas Harris.