A summery cocktail recipe featuring herbal and floral Lillet Blanc and St. Germain elderflower liqueur, all lightened with sparkling mineral water. The perfect low-alcohol beverage for any summer gathering or solo sipping.
Summer afternoons have a languid, laid-back quality which calls for a table laid in the shade, under a canopy of climbing vines which provide much-needed shade.
Even though I’m stuck at my desk, writing to a deadline, I can picture myself under that canopy, having had lunch, sharing a dessert and a refreshing drink with someone, bound in good conversation which, nevertheless, lulls sometimes under the combined pressure of heat and full-bellied drowsiness.
This is how I remember summer Sunday afternoons at my grandmother’s homestead in the countryside. This drink reminds me of those afternoons, and while we never had Lillet, instead my family enjoyed our homemade rosé, lightened with a generous splash of sparkling mineral water. The wine and water both sat in a bucket of water lowered into the well to keep cool, or else in the cold cellar. Both the well and the cellar kept a steady 13 degrees C, at which drinks were refreshing but never tooth-achingly cold.
What is this Lillet spritz made with
This spritz (spritz is a mixture of wine with sparkling water) is mellow and low in alcohol, herbal and pleasingly floral at the same time. It features Lillet Blanc, St Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and, or course, sparkling water.
Lillet Blanc is a French apéritif, a fortified wine infused with botanicals, which give it a lovely aromatic, crisp quality. (More information on Lillet here) When combined with the elderflower liqueur and the lemon, its lightly floral quality is enhanced. You will also need ice, and for the sparkling mineral water component, I recommend S. Pellegrino or Perrier.
As a garnish, I used sprigs of lemon thyme and mint, and borage flowers, all of which I have growing in my garden. The garnish is optional, but the herbs amplify the botanical notes and, in my opinion, enhance the drinking experience with their scent. Also, they’re just beautiful to look at.
Ingredient substitutions
Lillet Blanc – it is the main ingredient in this spritz, and I don’t recommend substituting
St. Germain elderflower liqueur – if you would like a drink that’s sweeter, and with an even lower alcohol content, you can swap the St Germain for elderflower cordial
Lemon – try a lime wedge instead of the lemon for a different, but equally aromatic version
Sparkling mineral water – my preferred choice is S. Pellegrino sparkling water. You can substitute club soda, or if you don’t mind a more bitter edge to your spritz, you can use tonic water. Tonic water contains quinine and so does Lillet Blanc, so they work together really well. Bitter flavours balance out sweetness, so if you are a Negroni person, or someone who does not love sweet cocktails, then tonic water might be a better choice for you.
I would love for you to play around with the proportion of ingredients in this spritz, and find the combination that you love best.
Lillet elderflower spritz
Yields: 1 serving
Ingredients:
30 ml (½ oz or 2 tablespoons) St. Germain liqueur
90 ml (1 ½ oz or 3 tablespoons) Lillet Blanc
1 wedge of lemon
90 ml (1 ½ oz or 3 tablespoons) sparkling mineral water
Ice
1 sprig of fresh mint
1 sprig of fresh lemon thyme
2-3 fresh borage flowers optional
Method:
Fill a glass halfway up with ice. Add the liqueur and the Lillet Blanc. Squeeze the lemon wedge into the drink, and add it to the glass. Add the sparkling mineral water, then stir gently with a cocktail spoon.
Gently massage the mint and thyme sprig to release some of the aroma, then add them to the glass along with the borage flowers. Serve.