World Monitor Mag, Digitalisation WM_June 2019 web | Page 63

of Lillet, are grown in the Bordeaux region, which is world-
famous for its wines of the highest level. The wine is aged
in French oak barrels for six months, after which the cellar
master personally tastes all the samples and selects certain
barrels to create a blend. Natural citrus liqueurs are made
from two kinds of oranges – sweet ones from Spain and
Morocco and bitter ones from Haiti, along with the natural
component of quinine, produced from the bark of the quinine
tree in Peru. For a long time, quinine was considered a
medicine and was added to liqueurs and tinctures for medical
purposes to improve digestion. This served as an inspiration
for the creation of Lillet. In the middle of the 19th century, two
brothers – Raymond and Paul Lillet – were famous merchants
in Bordeaux, selling wine, as well as bringing oranges and
other fruits from warm countries to France. At that time, the
conditions for the storage and transportation of wine were
not at a high level, and the Lillet brothers found a way to
give their drink durability by adding to it citrus liqueur. In this
form, Lillet could travel not only in Europe, but also across the
Atlantic Ocean.
Over the ocean, a great connoisseur of Lillet was Jackie
Kennedy, who loved Lillet-based cocktails as an aperitif
before dinner. Well, this brand was perpetuated by the
famous English writer Ian Flemming, the creator of the 007
saga, James Bond. In Casino Royale, James Bond asks the
bartender for the first time to prepare a cocktail for him,
which consists of two portions of gin, a portion of vodka and
Lillet. Subsequently, this cocktail is called after the first Bond
sweetheart – Vesper Lynd – and has been very popular for
half a century now.
Lillet-based cocktails are best suited for light snacks,
bruschetta, seafood, salads, but the ‘eternal classics’ have
always been and remain oysters. After all, nature has awarded
this French region its luxurious delicacies. In addition to
Bordeaux wines, the South-East of France is known around the
world by the Arcachon village, where they grow the best oysters
in the world, which are the perfect gastronomic combination
with the refreshing and delicious Lillet-based cocktails.
This summer, whether you enjoy the sun in France or on the
terrace of your favorite cafe in Almaty, do not forget to ask
for your favorite French cocktail. Or make it at home, because
the recipe is so simple: 50 ml of Lillet Blanc, 100 ml of tonic,
a strawberry, a slice of cucumber and a sprig of mint, and lots
of ice! Mix all the ingredients in a wine glass, and your French
aperitif is ready.
Santé!
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