Bring variety to your Wild Berry
The basic spirit for the cocktail is Lillet Blanc liqueur made from white grapes. However, the French brand also offers Lillet Rosé, which is more intense in taste. In contrast to the Blanc, which is reminiscent of exotic fruits, honey and pine resin, the Rosé is much fruitier and thus enhances the berry flavors in Lillet Berry.
If you want the best of both worlds, use both liqueurs in your drink and play around with the mix ratio a bit until you find the perfect recipe for you.
The also offered Lillet Rouge is rather unsuitable for the Lillet Berry, because it distorts and covers the light aroma of the cocktail. However, it is great for other refreshing drinks.
What actually is Lillet?
The aperitifs of the French brand are the basis of various cocktails and just about everyone knows the typical taste of Lillet Blanc, which is determined by honey, candied oranges and exotic fruits. The liqueur, made from 85 percent wine, was first produced in 1887.
The exact composition of the aperitifs based on wines and fruit liqueurs is subject to the trade secret of Maison Lillet. However, its current composition differs significantly from the original and was adapted to modern consumer tastes in 1987.
The base wines for the liqueurs all come from Bordeaux. Only white wines are used for Lillet Blanc, a blend of white and red wines is used for Lillet Rosé, and only red wines are considered for Lillet Rouge.
In the next step of production, various macerates from fruits and barks are used, which have to be put together anew every year. This guarantees a consistent taste of the aperitifs. For the original Lillet quinine liqueur originally used real Cinchona bark from Peru.
Subsequently, the fruit macerates are assembled with the base wines. After that, the Blanc and the Rouge are allowed to mature in large oak barrels and develop their final flavor. In the case of rosé, this step is omitted in order to preserve its aroma as fruity as possible and its light red color.
In the final step, another blending takes place, in which the wines are blended depending on their aroma and degree of maturity, before they are finally bottled.
The idea of combining different types of wine with exotic fruits came from Father Kermann, an immigrant from the French province who settled in Rio de Janeiro during the reign of King Louis XVI. When he later returned to his homeland, he became famous for making liqueurs and fortifying potions from cinchona bark. The Bordeaux region was then the center for the wine industry and the most important French seaport.
The different characteristics of the aperitifs
The Lillet Wildberry uses almost exclusively the Blanc, which complements the cocktail with its exotic flavors. In addition, the French company also produces a rosé, which is perfect for a summer version of the popular drink.
- Lillet Blanc – Smells ofcandied oranges in honey, spruce resins and exotic fruits.
- Lillet Rosé (since 2012)– Shows on the nose with red fruits, orange blossom and citrus peel.
- Lillet Rouge (since 1962) – Fresh orange peel, red berry fruit and spicy notes of vanilla and baking spices.
Frozen fruit? No thanks!
In many recipes you read again and again that for the Lillet Wild Berry also frozen berry mixtures can be taken. However, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety warns that the frozen fruits may contain residues of pesticides, bacteria and even viruses. For this reason, the BVL recommends heating them before consumption to kill pathogens. This recommendation applies especially to immunocompromised and elderly people. For this reason, it is better to use fresh berries and wash them thoroughly beforehand. Fresh fruit also looks much better in Lillet Wildberry.