The effervescent Lillet Spritz is light, refreshing and oh-so-lovely. Get to know this bubbly and bittersweet cocktail and make your own at home this weekend.
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About this Lillet Spritz recipe
Summer is almost here! Let’s have a drink to celebrate. How about a Lillet Spritz?
The spritz is as summery as you can get when it comes to celebratory sippers.
You probably already know her sister, the Aperol Spritz, but it comes from the spritz family of cocktails. (More on this in a minute.) This one is made with Lillet Blanc, a bittersweet liqueur that’s also light and refreshing.
When paired with tart lemon, fresh mint, bubbly Prosecco and zippy soda water, the result is an effervescent drink that you’re going to want to sip all summer long.
More French drink recipes: French Mule • French 75 • French Martini • French Gimlet
Why you’ll love this recipe
You’ll love this bubbly cocktail recipe for a few reasons:
- With just three ingredients, it’s easy to put together.
- It’s a tasty spin on the Spritz cocktails you know and love.
- You can easily make these for a crowd. They’re a great party drink!
What is a spritz?
Spritz cocktails are a type of bubbly cocktail from Italy. They are often served as an early evening cocktail throughout the Italian summers.
The spritz has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, mainly via a marketing campaign of the spirit company Aperol.
Most well-known is the Aperol Spritz, which is also known as a Venetian Spritz. It features any bitter spirit (known as an aperitivo in Italian), bubbly prosecco and soda water and is garnished with an orange slice.
Try a spritz with another bitter spirit, like a Campari Spritz or a Limoncello Spritz.
What is Lillet?
Lillet is a French apéritif brand. There are three types of Lillet:
- Lillet Blanc (sometimes called Lillet Blonde) — clear color
- Lillet Rouge — red color
- Lillet Rosé — rosy pink color
I used the clear one here, but you could try this spritz recipe with any of them and I bet it would still be good! Lillet Blanc is light and flowery with hints of honey.
Tools & glassware
The Aperol company website calls for “a stemmed balloon glass” for the Aperol Spritz, which means it should have a wide, round shape, like a red wine glass.
There are also spritz glasses, which are basically goblets designed specifically for spritz cocktails.
Personally, I like to use stemless wine glasses because they are less likely to topple over.
favorite spritz glasses
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You only need three ingredients to make this bubbly cocktail:
- Lillet Blanc: This French bitter liqueur, known as an apéritif, is clear in color. You could make a similar version with Cocchi Americano or dry vermouth if you don’t have Lillet.
- Prosecco: Prosecco is from Italy, whereas champagne is French. Though prosecco is most fitting, you can use any kind of dry sparkling wine, such as cava or champagne. Look for “dry,” “brut” or “extra brut” on the label.
- Soda water: A splash of soda makes this drink a little lighter with extra effervescence.
Best prosecco for spritz cocktails
Look for “dry,” “brut” or “extra brut” on the label of a bottle of prosecco. These won’t be too sweet, just perfectly balanced for the bittersweet liqueurs.
My guide to sparkling wine can help you pick out a bottle and tell you more about the different types.
A great budget buy is Freixenet or La Marca, which are both in the $12-15 range. They are of good quality, yet they won’t drain your wallet.
Garnishes
Finish off this Lillet Spritz with a couple of garnishes:
- lemon slice: You could also use a lemon twist or piece of lemon zest. Other citrus like lime or orange would work too.
- fresh mint: Fresh herb garnishes bring their aromatic qualities to every sip of a cocktail. If you don’t have mint, a sprig of thyme or basil would be just lovely too.
Variations and substitutions
If it’s not sweet enough, you can add a splash of simple syrup.
The best part about Spritzes is you can substitute the main spirit for something else! No Lillet? No problem! Make a similar version with Cocchi Americano or dry vermouth. Here are a few other options:
Lillet Rosé Spritz: Substitute the rosy version of Lillet Blanc for a slightly sweeter, pink-hued version.
Lillet Rouge Spritz: The red version of Lillet is a little less robust than Aperol, but it’d still be good in a Spritz.
Hugo Spritz: This floral version of this cocktail is much sweeter, as it features St-Germain elderflower liqueur.
Lillet Tonic: Sub the Prosecco and club soda for tonic water for an herbaceous version.
Instructions
Here’s how to make your own Lillet Spritz cocktail at home:
First, add some ice cubes to a wine glass. Add in the Lillet Blanc, then the Prosecco.
Finally add a splash of soda water. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon wheel (or two!) and a mint sprig.
Tips & tricks
Make this recipe even better with these tips:
- Chill the prosecco and club soda until you’re ready to use it. The colder, the bubblier!
- Pour the prosecco slowly. As it bubbles and fizzes over the other ingredients, it’s easier to gauge how much to fill the glasses.
- The garnishes add fragrance and intensify the drinking experience. To make the drink really shine, add a lemon twist or dehydrated lemon slice and double the mint garnish for a more robust, fresh aroma.
- Add a flower ice cube with spring flowers frozen inside.
Food pairings
Enjoy them with a fruity appetizer like a charcuterie board or baked brie.
You can also have them with springtime flavors, such as:
- Floral: Consider some earl grey shortbread cookies or lavender macarons.
- Lemon: Enjoy these drinks with lemon bars, raspberry lemon parfaits or lemon drop cookies.
- Mint: Sip them while you eat a mint melon salad or a mojito popsicle.
When to serve them
The Lillet Spritz is a versatile cocktail. It’s sophisticated enough for dinner parties and simple enough for a casual evening on your patio or balcony. With bubbly prosecco, it’s a great drink for celebrating anything.
- spring brunch
- summer dinner parties
- Easter brunch
- bachelorette parties
- engagement parties
- birthday parties
- bridal showers and baby showers
FAQ
Champagne and other types of sparkling wine, like cava, are mainly different from Prosecco in origin and the type of grape used. They generally are very similar so it’s okay to substitute, but be sure to stick to a dry sparkling wine that says “dry” or “brut” on the label.
Instead of Lillet Blanc, substitute Cocchi Americano or dry vermouth for a similar flavor. You can also use Lillet Rouge or Lillet Rosé.
More Lillet recipes
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Lillet Spritz
ingredients
- 2 ounces Lillet Blanc
- 3-4 ounces Prosecco
- 2 ounces club soda
- 1 lemon slice for garnish
- 1 sprig mint for garnish
instructions
- First, add some ice to a wine glass.
- Add in the Lillet Blanc, then the Prosecco. Finally add a splash of soda water. Stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a mint sprig.
notes
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