Lillet
Various aperitifs made from wines and fruit liqueurs (in a ratio of 85%: 15%) are sold under the name Lillet . The finished aperitifs have an alcohol content of 17 % by volume . Lillet is part of Pernod Ricard , Germany.
Manufacturing
To make the liqueurs , the peel of various citrus fruits (oranges from southern Spain, bitter oranges from Haiti, green oranges from Morocco and Tunisia) and cinchona bark from Peru are soaked in alcohol for several months.
The Lillet is stored in traditional oak barrels. In 1987 the recipe for Lillet Blanc and in 1990 the composition of Lillet Rouge were adapted to contemporary tastes in collaboration with the Oenological Institute of the University of Bordeaux : Now it no longer tastes sweet and bitter, but rather light and fruity.
variants
Lillet is available in five variants:
- Blanc ( Semillion grape variety ; gold-colored; aromas of oranges candied in honey , spruce resin and exotic fruits )
- Rosé (Semillion grape variety; pink; aromas of red fruits, orange blossom and grapefruit )
- Rouge ( Merlot grape ; ruby red; aromas of oranges, red fruits, vanilla and spices)
- Réserve Blanc ( AOC wines of one vintage; gold-colored; aromas: fruity, floral, passion fruit )
- Réserve Rouge (AOC wines of one vintage; ruby red; aromas: fruity, black and red currant, vanilla)
history
The company Lillet Frères (liqueur manufacturer and wine and spirits trader) was founded in 1872 in Podensac ( Gironde ), France , south of Bordeaux. The Lillet was created in 1887. The idea of combining Bordeaux wines with exotic fruits came from Father Kermann, who under Louis XVI. emigrated to Brazil as a doctor and finally returned to Bordeaux, where he made liqueurs and tonics mainly from cinchona bark. At that time Bordeaux was the capital of the wine trade and the most important French port from which ships sailed for the Caribbean. In 1946 it was first imported to the USA by the wine merchant Michel Dreyfus. In 1962, Pierre Lillet had the Lillet Rouge specially developed for the American market. In 2012 the Lillet rosé was launched.
Serving styles
Lillet is drunk as an aperitif: very cold, on ice and with a wedge of lime or orange. But it is also suitable for mixing long drinks or cocktails.
Trivia
In Casino Royale , James Bond has a martini served with Kina Lillet instead of vermouth , which he later calls Vespers . The recipe is first mentioned in Ian Fleming's 1953 novel Casino Royale . The recipe refers to the Kina Lillet , which has not been made since 1987.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Imprint of Lillet , on lillet.de, accessed on August 18, 2019
- ↑ The range , on lillet.com, accessed on October 10, 2016