Picnic with Lillet

“A balmy summer evening, the scent of fresh flowers is in the air, cozy feel-good corners invite you to lively conversations and delicious drinks provide breezy pleasures.”

When an invitation reads this sentence, you can be sure I’m all in. And so the French aperitif classic Lillet invited me to their exclusive summer picnic in on of the most beautiful event locations in Salzburg, the Gwandhaus.

The invitation didn’t promise too much: a warm summer evening, flowers in every corner, pillows and blankets in the grass, fruit baskets and macarons on the tables, and of course a wide selection of fabulous Lillet drinks to try. Plus, everyone was dressed in white from head to toe, which gave the whole atmosphere a very elegant touch.  It almost felt like as if the French Riviera moved to Salzburg for a night.

Although I’ve had Lillet before – I remember Lillet Rosé was a big hit in the summer of 2013 – I didn’t really know anything about its history. So in case you’re as curious as me, here’s a little Lillet crash course: 

Lillet (pronounced lee-lay) is a delightful wine aperitif from the Bordeaux region in France. Founded by the brothers Paul and Raymond in 1872, they created the first and only aperitif from Bordeaux in the little village of Podensac.

Lillet, called Kina Lillet until the 1970s, is a blend of wines and fruit macerations. Production is constant year round and consists of a blend of vintages to ensure a consistent taste from year to year. Lillet is available in Blanc and Rosé, and you could say it’s similar to vermouth, but without the prevailing bitterness. The flavors of honey, lime, orange and mint make it very enjoyable. It’s best served chilled and can be enjoyed on its own over ice, and with optional orange, lemon or lime slices. As the name suggests, an aperitif is usually served before a meal and is said to bring health benefits and to stimulate the appetite. Aperitifs soon became synonymous for a certain lifestyle and are connected with a feeling of celebration, relaxation and comfort.

Nowadays, Lillet is not only the perfect choice as an aperitif, but since its popularity increased far over the boarders of France, many delicious cocktails have been created based on the iconic drink.

I’ve had the chance to try lots of different creations during the picnic, and would like to introduce you to my favorites – tested and approved:

Lillet Roseberry

Lillet Vive

• 5cl of Lillet Blanc
• 10cl of tonic water
• ice cubes
• 1 slice of cucumber

Lillet is definitely the perfect drink for summer – day or night. No matter if you serve it as an aperitif, pure or as a cocktail – you can’t go wrong with it and it will always be trés chic <3

with the picnic gang: Chrissy, Rene, Carina, Anna and Christina.

*in friendly collaboration with Lillet – thanks for having me!
**excessive alcohol consumption causes health risks. drink in moderation and enjoy responsibly.