Lillet Blanc Apertif
Lillet Blanc is a 17% ABV (34 proof), 750mL French wine-based aperitif from Podensac, south of Bordeaux, France, made since 1872. Per owner Pernod Ricard's product page, it blends 85% wines — chiefly Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc per producer notes — with 15% fruit liqueurs, plus quinine, and is matured in French oak barrels for several months. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 17% (34 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Composition: 85% wines / 15% fruit liqueurs, plus quinine (Pernod Ricard)
- Key flavours: Sweet oranges (Turkey, Spain, Morocco), bitter oranges (Haiti), cinchona bark (South America)
- Aging: French oak barrels, several months
- Origin: Maison Lillet, Podensac, Bordeaux, France — produced since 1872
The Bordeaux Aperitif, Made by Fewer Than Ten People
Lillet has been made since 1872 in Podensac, a small village south of Bordeaux, by a team of fewer than ten people using methods passed down since the 19th century. The fruits and peels cold-macerate in alcohol for several weeks before blending with the wine, and the finished aperitif rests in oak before bottling. It is also the aperitif in the famous Vesper cocktail. Browse more aperitifs and fortified styles on our wine shelf, see the rest of our liqueurs, or visit the Lillet vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Flowery, per Pernod Ricard's tasting note. Palate: Candied orange, honey, pine resin and exotic fruit; full and fleshy. Finish: Long-lasting.
How to Enjoy
Always serve it chilled — neat, on the rocks, or as a long drink at one part Lillet to two parts bubbles (Champagne or tonic) with a garnish. Producer serving suggestions include a Lillet Spritz, a Lillet gin and tonic, and a 50/50 Lillet and gin martini alongside fresh oysters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lillet Blanc still contain quinine? Yes. Quinine is a listed ingredient in the current product. The 1985 reformulation, developed with Bordeaux University's Institute of Oenology, reduced the quinine bitterness — it did not remove quinine.
What wines is it made from? The blend is 85% wine and 15% fruit liqueurs per Pernod Ricard; producer notes name Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc as the dominant grapes.
How should I store and serve it? Keep it refrigerated after opening and always serve it well chilled, neat, over ice or in a spritz.
Bordeaux's golden aperitif, chilled and ready — order Lillet Blanc online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.