Lillet Spritz

Elegant, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing, the Lillet Spritz is one of the easiest low-effort cocktails to make at home. Made with Lillet Blanc, sparkling wine, and soda water in a 3:3:1 ratio, it’s light, floral, slightly herbal, and perfect for warm afternoons or aperitivo hour.

If you love lighter cocktails that feel crisp and sophisticated without being overly bitter or sweet, the Lillet Spritz deserves a spot in your rotation.

How to Make a Lillet Spritz

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice.
2. Pour in the Prosecco first, followed by the Lillet.
3. Top with soda water.
4. Gently stir to combine.
5. Garnish with fresh citrus and herbs, if desired.

What is a Lillet Spritz?

A Lillet Spritz is a sparkling cocktail made with 3 parts Prosecco + 3 parts Lillet Blanc + 1 part soda water. It’s served over ice and garnished with citrus and herbs. The Lillet spritz is a lighter, more floral version of an Aperol Spritz, but is still just as refreshing. Like most other classic spritzes, the Lillet Spritz is also lower ABV than many spirit-forward cocktails.

What Is Lillet?

Lillet was created in Bordeaux, France in 1872 and was originally developed as a wine-based aperitif infused with citrus peels and quinine. It quickly became popular throughout France as a pre-dinner aperitif and eventually gained international recognition through classic cocktails and aperitivo culture. There are three main types:

• Lillet Blanc: Bright, floral, citrusy, and the most common for spritzes
• Lillet Rosé: Fruitier with berry and grapefruit notes
• Lillet Rouge: Richer and more spice-forward

Today, Lillet Blanc remains one of the most versatile aperitif wines for spritzes and low ABV cocktails. It’s lightly sweet, citrus-forward, floral, and subtly herbal. For a classic Lillet Spritz, Lillet Blanc is the traditional choice.

What Does a Lillet Spritz Taste Like?

The Lillet Spritz is subtle, refreshing, and incredibly easy to sip. I’d describe it as:

• Light and citrusy
• Floral and herbal
• Crisp and bubbly
• Slightly honeyed
• Less bitter than an Aperol or Campari Spritz

Tips for Making the Best Lillet Spritz

• Keep Everything Cold. Because the cocktail is delicate and wine-forward, serving it very cold makes a huge difference.
• Use Fresh Citrus. Orange, lemon, or grapefruit all work beautifully depending on the flavor profile you want.
• Add Herbs. Mint, thyme, or basil make the cocktail feel extra fresh and garden-inspired.
• Use Dry Sparkling Wine. A dry Prosecco or sparkling wine balances Lillet’s natural sweetness perfectly.
• Buy the good stuff. Since this is an easy 3-ingredient cocktail, there’s no way for your ingredients to hide.

Lillet Spritz Variations

I personally love adding grapefruit instead of orange for a slightly more bitter citrus edge. Sometimes I’ll also add a few dashes of orange bitters if I want the cocktail to lean a little more aperitivo-style without becoming too bitter. You can also make it with Elderflower liqueur or add a flavored syrup like Strawberry or Basil.

Batch Lillet Spritz

Perfect for brunches, bridal showers, garden parties, or easy summer hosting.

Serves 6–8

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Lillet Blanc (750ml)
• 1 bottle Prosecco (750ml)
• 1.5 cups soda water
• Orange slices, grapefruit wedges, or lemon slices
• Fresh herbs
• Ice

Instructions

1. Top each glass with soda water and garnish with fresh citrus.
2. Combine the Lillet Blanc and Prosecco in a large pitcher.
3. Add citrus and herbs.
4. Refrigerate until chilled.
5. Fill glasses with ice and pour in the spritz mixture.

Hosting Tips

Freeze citrus slices or edible flowers into ice cubes ahead of time for a really beautiful presentation during parties or brunch hosting.

Here are three of my favorite Spritz glasses:

• Schott Zwiesel Tour 13-oz. Outdoor White Wine Glass
• Raye Angled Crystal Amaro Spritz Glasses
• Fable Pinot Noir Glasses