Lillet, Secret de Famille

Bordeaux and its wines are exported throughout the world; Bordeaux and its Lillet, one of the oldest French apéritifs still in production. You’ll find Lillet, an institution whose durability is due simply to its quality, around Podensac, in Graves. Don’t go asking for the Lillet recipe, as it is a closely guarded secret, a genuine relic with international cult status; James Bond being the No. 1 fan. On winemaking day, everything is padlocked. Just a few aromatic vapours let you know that something is indeed happening, a metamorphosis that mingles orange peel and Bordeaux wines, distilled who knows how. Lillet and its unique posters on display in all of the bistros remind the drinker that they are effectively sipping an institution…