(French) Basil & Lillet Spritz Recipe

Light, bright, and super refreshing, my French-inspired Basil & Lillet Spritz recipe is one I’ll be turning to all summer long. Made with just 3 ingredients in less than 5 minutes, this delightful cocktail brings a whole new meaning to Happy Hour.

Jump to:

• What Is A Spritz?
• About This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Equipment
• How To Make A Basil Lillet Spritz
• Expert Tips
• How to make a Basil Spritz
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Summery Cocktail Recipes
• Basil Spritz

What Is A Spritz?

You've likely experienced — or at least heard of — the classic Italian Spritz, the bright, orange-colored cocktail that originated in Italy during the 19th century. Aperol spritzes are one of my go-to summer cocktails because they are so darn delicious!

A spritz is technically defined as a wine-based cocktail, and within the past few decades, there have been so many variations of spritz that can vary greatly in flavor. Ultimately, the goal is to experience a bubbly, refreshing drink to enjoy during happy hour or with any meal.

About This Recipe

In this French take on a spritz, I used bright, sweet, citrusy Lillet Blanc instead of the famously crimson red, bittersweet Aperol. When blended with the fresh, herbaceous flavor of basil, you end up with something akin to summer in a glass!

This delightfully refreshing cocktail recipe is not only delicious, it’s also a snap to make. All you need are three primary ingredients and either a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with a lid. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll have a tasty, elegant drink that will transport you to a beachside café in Marseille.

Ingredients

One of the best things about spritz cocktails is their short ingredient lists. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

• Lillet Blanc - Lillet Blanc is a French Aperitif that's created from a blend of wines, variated fruits, and botanicals that sit in oak barrels over a period of time to age. It has a lovely floral, fruity and refreshing flavor and is easily one of my favorite aperitifs to incorporate into cocktails! It’s also delicious served over ice with a thick wedge of orange zest.
• Basil - By adding and shaking basil and Lillet together, the flavors start to infuse and our Lillet starts to take on a fresh basil flavor - perfect for summer sipping! Look for robust green leaves that don’t show any signs of bruising for the best flavor. 
• Sparkling Wine - I prefer using a dry sparkling wine for this spritz cocktail, as the Lillet lends a rather sweet, rich quality. I'd highly recommend stashing your wine in the fridge overnight before using so your cocktail remains extra chilled.
• Lime Juice (Optional) - If you want a little extra zing in your Lillet spritz, I suggest a squeeze of lime. To get the most juice out of your fruit, give it a firm roll on the countertop for 10-15 seconds before cutting.

Equipment

There are only two things you need to grab to make this French spritz recipe a reality: 

• Cocktail Shaker or Container with Lid - Here at Chez Laurae, we love hosting happy hour at home, so a cocktail shaker is an indispensable part of our kitchen arsenal. If you can’t seem to find yours, don’t fret! You can easily use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid instead.
• Glass for Serving - In my humble opinion, cocktails taste just a bit better when they come out of beautiful glasses. For this simple drink, you can opt for a glass with a stem, or a pretty bodega glass!

How To Make A Basil Lillet Spritz

In a shaker, combine Lillet & basil leaves together and shake vigorously with ice for 30 seconds. Your goal is to infuse the Lillet with the basil during this process.

Strain into a glass getting rid of the broken ice chips and basil leaves.

Add ice and top with sparkling wine and a basil leaf for garnish before enjoying!

Expert Tips

• Basil Basics: To prepare the basil for this cocktail, I start by washing and drying the basil leaves and pat them dry using a paper towel. Then, to keep the remaining basil fresh to use for a cocktail the next day or to whip up some pesto, I like to place the basil stems in a small container of water and place it in the fridge.
• Citrus Primer: When in doubt, always go for fresh!! Although buying small amounts of bottled lime juice can be tempting, I would highly suggest buying fresh limes instead. Fresh citrus juice is much brighter and has a different degree of intensity. If you’re curious, buy fresh limes and bottled lime juice and try them side by side! It’s a great way to understand the differences in your own taste buds.
• Shake it like you mean it. Don’t forget to shake the basil spritz VIGOROUSLY. As creaming butter and sugar is to baking, shaking your cocktail is to bartending. The action not only chills your drink and infuses all that basil-y flavor, but also acts to aerate the drink and give it a luscious mouthfeel.

How to make a Basil Spritz

It truly takes less than five minutes to whip up this Basil Spritz:

• In a shaker, combine Lillet & basil leaves together and shake vigorously with ice for 30 seconds.
• Strain into a glass getting rid of the broken ice chips and basil leaves.
• Add ice and top with sparkling wine and a basil leaf for garnish before enjoying!

Frequently Asked Questions

More Summery Cocktail Recipes

• Grapefruit and Lime Paloma
• Blueberry and Black Currant Cocktail
• Blackberry and Lilac Gin Gimlet
• Coconut and Pineapple Margarita

As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try this French Basil & Lillet Spritz Recipe, please leave a review or share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!