Lillet Blanc

Cocchi Americano is the most commonly recommended substitute for Lillet Blanc in cocktails, as it is closer in style to the original bitter Kina Lillet formulation with its more pronounced quinine bitterness. For a lighter substitute, a dry white vermouth such as Noilly Prat, with a dash of orange bitters, approximates the function in a Vesper Martini or Corpse Reviver. The distinction matters most in cocktails where Lillet's specific flavour character is structural rather than merely a base.

Lillet Blanc is a French aromatised wine aperitif produced in Podensac, near Bordeaux, from a base of Bordeaux white wines, primarily Sauvignon Blanc, fortified and infused with macerated citrus peels and other botanicals. The current Lillet Blanc, reformulated in 1986, is noticeably sweeter and less bitter than the original Kina Lillet, which contained more quinine. It is bottled at approximately 17% ABV and serves as an aperitif and a cocktail ingredient in drinks including the Vesper Martini.

You can order Lillet Blanc online here at Celtic Whiskey Shop with nationwide delivery across Ireland and international shipping available. We stock Lillet Blanc, Lillet Rouge, and Lillet Rosé. Prefer to browse in person? Visit us at 27 28 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, open 7 days. Our team will advise on the full aperitif wine range including alternatives and cocktail ingredient pairings.