Lillet Spritz

Lightly sweet, fruity, and floral, this Lillet Spritz is a bubbly cocktail that’s perfect for sipping poolside or at backyard barbecues. Orange blossom water and orange bitters bring out the flavors of the Lillet Blanc without overpowering it! 

What Is a Lillet Spritz?  

The Lillet spritz is a bubbly cocktail made with Lillet Blanc (a fortified French wine) and club soda. My take on this spritzer also includes orange bitters and orange blossom water. 

Lillet Blanc is sweet, with a subtle acidity to it. It has distinct undertones of orange and honey that pair perfectly with the orange bitters and orange blossom water. 

The Lillet Spritz draws inspiration from the classic Spritz family of cocktails, which were first created in the 1800s by Austro-Hungarian soldiers who were stationed in northern Italy. The local wine was far too strong for them, so they added a “spritz” (i.e. splash) of water to dilute it. 

Spritz cocktails are generally served as an aperitif. They’re to be enjoyed with light nibbles before a meal to stimulate the appetite. 

However, we also love making Lillet spritzers on pool days; the fizzy cocktail is so refreshing on hot days! 

If you love making cocktails with Lillet Blanc, be sure to make a French Blonde next! It’s a refreshing drink made with gin, Lillet Blanc, St. Germain, and grapefruit juice.

What Does a Lillet Spritz Taste Like? 

It’s incredibly light, refreshing, and very bubbly from the club soda. It’s slightly sweet, and the cocktail has a subtle floral flavor to it. The orange comes through clearly without overpowering the Lillet Blanc. 

Bar Tools Needed

You need very little equipment to build this bubbly Lillet Blanc cocktail: 

• Jigger — For measuring the ingredients. 
• Balloon or Wine Glasses — The traditional choices for serving spritz cocktails. 
• Paring Knife and Cutting Board — For preparing the orange garnish. 

Ingredients in a Lillet Spritz 

You’ll need a few key ingredients to make a Lillet Blanc spritz: 

• Ice 
• Orange bitters 
• Orange blossom water 
• Lillet Blanc 
• Club soda (we prefer the Fever Tree brand) 
• Fresh orange wedges (optional, for garnish) 
• Fresh mint (optional, for garnish) 

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

What Is Lillet Blanc? 

Lillet Blanc is a French fortified wine that’s made by flavoring a blend of white wines with orange fruit liqueurs. The wine is aged in oak barrels for a year before being bottled and sold. 

Lillet Blanc is floral, with undertones of orange and honey. It’s sweet but has a subtle acidity to it. 

What Is Club Soda? 

Club soda is heavily carbonated water that’s made by injecting it with carbon dioxide. If you’re out of club soda, you can replace it with sparkling water; just keep in mind that the spritzer will be less bubbly. 

Garnish Ideas

You can sip your cocktail as is, or you can garnish it with a fresh orange wedge and a fresh mint sprig. I bet an orange twist would work nicely in this cocktail, too! 

FAQs About This Cocktail 

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Is a Lillet Spritz shaken or stirred?

Neither! The cocktail gets built directly in the glass and is topped off with club soda. You don’t need to stir it — and you certainly do NOT want to shake it! 

What kind kind of glass should the cocktail be served in? 

Spritzes are typically made with balloon or wine glasses (we love these elegant wine glasses), but use whatever glasses or jars you have on hand. 

Is the cocktail served over ice? 

Yes! Use ice cubes if possible; they melt slower than crushed ice, which prevents the spritzes from being watered down. 

Can this be made as a pitcher cocktail? 

Yes, this can be made as a pitcher cocktail. Follow these instructions: 

• Pre-chill the individual ingredients (unopened). 
• Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher just before you plan to serve the drinks. 
• Serve ice in an ice bucket alongside the pitcher and add ice directly to the glasses as the cocktail is served. (You don’t want to pitcher cocktail to get watered down!) 

What to Serve with Lillet Spritzers 

Spritz cocktails, like this Lillet Blanc version, are an aperitif. They’re meant to be consumed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. 

Try serving the Lillet spritzer with one or more of the following finger foods: 

• Homemade Microwave Popcorn
• Marinated Feta
• Tomato Crostini with Pesto and Goat Cheese
• Marinated Olives
• Olive Puff Pastry Cups
• Summer Squash Crostini
• Asparagus Puff Pastry Squares
• Mango Salsa
• Greek Pico de Gallo

Try This Cocktail at Home! 

Next time you’re looking for a Lillet Blanc cocktail, give this spritz cocktail recipe a try! 

Did you find it light and refreshing? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo! 

More Refreshing Spritz Cocktails: 

Sweet, floral, and refreshing, this St. Germain Spritz is made with elderflower liqueur, prosecco, and lemon juice. It’s a simple cocktail that’s perfect for the spring and summer! 

The Limoncello Spritz is a bright, refreshing cocktail bursting with lemon flavor! It’s the perfect drink to sip poolside on warm summer days.  

If you enjoy fresh strawberry cocktails, you’re bound to love this Strawberry Aperol Spritz! Aperol is infused with strawberries before being combined with prosecco and club soda in the classic spritz ratios. Cocktails don’t get more summery than this! 

This Raspberry Gin Spritz is tart and fruity with plenty of spritz thanks to the sparkling water! 

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