Oh Lord. It's not even 10:00am and I've already had a day. Is it too early for cocktails on the veranda?
This summer I'm slightly fixated on the French aperitif, Lillet Blanc. It's a such a lovely, refreshing combination of sweet and herbal flavors - perfect for a hot night. It's great on ice with a slice of lime or orange, or with a sprig of basil, a cucumber wedge, and a splash of gin and orange juice, as Martha suggests. Lest you think this a girly confection, Lillet was the preferred cocktail of Ian Fleming in Casino Royale (1953). Shake it, baby:
1/2 part Lillet Blanc
3 parts gin
1 part Vodka
5 cubes of ice
Lemon twist
More fun on Lillet's web site, including collectibles like posters and labels.
Lillet ad by Stina Persson (no wonder I liked it so much); photograph from Martha Stewart.
