The Lillet Spritz I’m Making on Repeat This Spring

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, this is the Lillet cocktail we made recently — and it’s such a good one for spring and summer hosting. It’s bright, crisp, slightly floral, and feels a little more elevated than a standard spritz while still being incredibly easy to make.

What I love most about this drink is that it has that same refreshing, aperitif-style feel you expect from a Lillet cocktail, but with a little more depth from the gin, fresh citrus, and elderflower tonic. It’s the kind of drink that feels perfect for patio nights, happy hour at home, or serving when friends stop by.

What is Lillet?

Lillet Blanc is a French aperitif wine with notes of citrus, honey, and herbs. It’s often served chilled on its own or mixed into light, refreshing cocktails, which is why it works so well this time of year.

A classic Lillet spritz is usually made with Lillet Blanc, sparkling wine or tonic, and citrus. For this version, we took that idea and made it a little more cocktail-forward with gin, fresh lime, grapefruit, and elderflower tonic.

The Original Lillet Spritz

For reference, a more traditional Lillet spritz is very simple:

Ingredients

• 2 oz Lillet Blanc
• 3 oz Soda Water or Tonic
• Ice
• Orange, lemon, or grapefruit for garnish

Directions

1. Fill a wine glass with ice
2. Add Lillet Blanc
3. Top with Soda or Tonic
   
4. Garnish with citrus and serve

If you want something lighter and more classic, this is a great place to start.

The Lillet Cocktail We Made

This version is a little brighter, fresher, and more layered. The grapefruit and lime keep it crisp, the elderflower tonic adds a subtle floral note, and the gin gives it more structure than a traditional spritz.

Ingredients (Makes 1 Drink)

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 1 1/2 oz Lillet Rose
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• Elderflower tonic, to top
• Ice
• Rosemary Garnish

Directions

1. Fill a glass or cocktail shaker with ice
2. Add the gin, Lillet Blanc, grapefruit juice, and fresh lime juice
3. Shake gently if using a shaker, or stir directly in the glass if building it over ice
4. Pour into a glass filled with fresh ice
5. Top with elderflower tonic
6. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit or lime

✨ Hosting Tip:

I like to pre-mix everything except the tonic and keep it chilled, then let guests top their own drinks. It keeps the cocktail fresh and bubbly, and makes hosting feel really effortless.

Notes

You can easily adjust this depending on how strong or light you want it:

• Add a little more elderflower tonic if you want it longer and more spritz-like
• Use a generous grapefruit garnish if you want it to feel extra fresh
• Serve it in a wine glass for more of a spritz presentation or in a rocks glass for something a little more casual

How I’d Serve It

This is such a good hosting cocktail because it feels special without requiring a full bar setup. I’d serve it with plenty of ice, sliced citrus, and a nice glass on the patio before dinner or alongside a simple grazing spread.

It also works really well for spring entertaining because it’s refreshing without being overly sweet.

Cheers!

If you’re looking for a cocktail that feels fresh, pretty, and just a little different this season, this Lillet cocktail is such a good one to make. It has the brightness of a spritz with a little more personality, and it’s perfect for slow evenings at home or easy entertaining.

If you try it, let me know — this one is definitely worth making again.