House
Lillet
Lillet is a wine-based aperitif produced in Podensac, in the Bordeaux area. It consists of aromatized wines created by blending selected Bordeaux wines with liqueurs obtained by maceration (primarily orange peels and quinquina/cinchona) to produce the Blanc, Rosé and Rouge variants.
- Podensac · Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France
- Since 1872
- 3 products
The story
The Maison Lillet was founded in 1872 in Podensac, Gironde, by the Lillet brothers as a wine and spirits shop/company. During the 20th century the product (formerly known as Kina Lillet in its original formulation containing cinchona) established itself as a Bordeaux aperitif. Production remains based in Podensac; the brand became part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio in the 2000s while keeping production in its original region.
Production philosophy
Lillet focuses on continuity and craft: working with wines from the Bordeaux area and selected aromatic raw materials, highlighting the character of a traditional French aperitif while remaining relevant for modern cocktails.
Territory
Podensac, Gironde (Bordeaux), France
Production method
Not a distillate but an aromatized wine: selected Bordeaux wines are blended with liqueurs obtained from the maceration of orange peels (sweet and bitter) and cinchona/quinquina and other ingredients whose recipe is proprietary. The blend is then adjusted to create the different references (Blanc, Rosé, Rouge).
Characteristics
- Type
- House
- City
- Podensac
- Categories
- Bordeaux aperitifs
- aromatized wine (quinquina)
- citrus aperitifs
- Bordeaux maison
- Raw materials
- wines from the Bordeaux region (e.g. Sémillon for Blanc and Rosé; Merlot for Rouge)
- sweet and bitter orange peels (macerated)
- cinchona/quinquina bark
- Representative products
- Lillet Blanc 75cl
- Lillet Rosé 75cl
- Lillet Rouge - French aperitif - 75cl
- Lillet Rouge - French aperitif - 75cl - DAMAGED LABEL
What makes it distinctive
- Maison founded in 1872 in Podensac (Bordeaux)
- Main products: Lillet Blanc, Rosé and Rouge
- Product defined as aromatized wine / wine-based aperitif
- Part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio (acquired in the 2000s)