Lillet, distributed in the United States by William Grant & Sons, launched its first new product in 50 years: Lillet Rosé. Lillet Rosé is created from a blend of the red and white Grand Cru Bordeaux wine varietals used to produce Lillet Blanc and Lillet Rouge. The combination consists of Semillon grapes for structure and a long finish, Sauvignon Blanc for fruitiness and aroma, and Muscatel for a floral bouquet, the company says. The wine is then married with artisanal orange liqueurs crafted from sweet orange peels from Spain and bitter orange peels from Haiti, and a proprietary blend of fruit liqueurs sourced near and produced in Lillet’s distillery in Podensac, a village in southwestern France. A small amount of Peruvian quinine is added to the final blend. Its rose color and taste profile are achieved by adding additional red fruit liqueurs and a very small amount of Lillet Rouge, using a traditional Champagne blending method to ensure a consistent color throughout. The result is a lush, fruity, elegant tonic wine with the taste of ripe summer berries, wildflowers, melon and stone fruit, as well as the traditional sweet and bitter citrus notes, the company says. A 750-ml. bottle retails for approximately $19.99.

William Grant & Sons USA, New York City
Telephone: 212/246-1760
Internet: www.lillet.com
Distribution: National