Lillet Blanc Aperitif 750ml

Lillet Blanc traces back to 1872, when brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet, wine and spirits merchants from Podensac in the Bordeaux region, founded Maison Lillet. In 1887 they introduced their signature aperitif, originally called Kina Lillet for its quinine content, making it one of the first white wine based aperitifs to come out of Bordeaux. The formula was later softened in the 1980s under new ownership to reduce its bitterness and sugar, and the "Kina" was dropped from the name decades earlier. The house still operates from Podensac today and remains closely tied to the surrounding Bordeaux wine country.

Lillet Blanc is built from a blend of roughly 85 percent Bordeaux white wines, mainly Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Muscadelle, combined with macerated citrus liqueurs made from sweet oranges and bitter orange peel, along with a small amount of quinine. The blend rests in oak vats for several months before bottling, which rounds out the wine base and lets the citrus and bittering elements settle into balance.

The color is a bright, clear gold. On the nose, honeyed citrus and floral notes lead, with hints of mint and pine emerging underneath. The palate is lightly sweet with a gentle bitter edge, showing candied orange and stone fruit through a smooth, refreshing finish. It works nicely alongside fresh oysters, a citrus-dressed salad, or delicate white fish.