There’s nothing like unwinding after a long day with a refreshing cocktail in hand. And if you’re in search of the perfect summer sip, look no further than the Strawberry-Lillet Crush. This delightful libation combines the refreshing taste of ripe strawberries with the subtleties of Lillet Blanc and the zesty notes of gin. With its vibrant hues and palate-pleasing flavors, it’s just what you need to beat the heat!
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WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT Strawberry-Lillet Crush
- Aromatic: With fresh mint and ripe strawberries, this cocktail is as aromatic as it is delicious, making every sip a sensory delight.
- Versatile: Whether it’s for a backyard BBQ, poolside chill, or a casual get-together, this drink fits the bill.
- Easy to Make: No fancy equipment or extensive mixology knowledge is required. All you need is a cocktail shaker and a handful of ingredients.
- Refreshing: The cool crushed ice, balanced with fruity and herbal flavors, makes this cocktail supremely refreshing.
Ingredients
- Mint: Fresh mint leaves add a nice touch of greenery and a cooling aftertaste to your cocktail.
- Ripe strawberries: Ripe, juicy strawberries lend a vibrant color and natural sweetness to the mix. Make sure they are hulled before use.
- Simple syrup: This ingredient brings a touch of sweetness to balance out the gin and Lillet Blanc. You can easily make it at home by combining equal parts sugar and water and heating until the sugar dissolves.
- Gin: Gin brings an invigorating juniper note to the cocktail. Choose a quality brand for the best taste.
- Lillet Blanc: This adds a light, floral, and fruity nuance to the cocktail. More on Lillet Blanc in a moment!
- Crushed ice: Serves a dual purpose, cooling the drink while diluting the potent flavors just a tad.
What is Lillet Blanc?
Lillet Blanc is a French aperitif wine from the Bordeaux region. It’s made from a blend of wines and fruit liqueurs, which are matured in oak casks to produce a subtly sweet, floral, and citrusy flavor. The Lillet brand also produces Lillet Rouge, which boasts a robust, fruity flavor with notes of blackberry, vanilla, and spices.
How To Make a Strawberry-Lillet Crush Cocktail
- Muddle the mint, strawberries, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. The aim is to lightly bruise the mint and strawberries to release their flavors.
- Fill a glass with crushed ice.
- Add the gin, Lillet Blanc, and ice cubes to the shaker until it’s about halfway filled.
- Shake well to blend the flavors and chill the mix.
- Strain the cocktail into your ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with strawberries and a sprig of mint and serve immediately.
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you can’t find ripe strawberries, frozen strawberries can do in a pinch. They also act as ice cubes, chilling your drink as they thaw.
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace gin with non-alcoholic gin or tonic water.
- A sprig of thyme or basil can stand in for mint for an interesting twist.
- Swap the gin for vodka to make this Lillet Blanc cocktail if you’re not a gin fan.
Recommended
Serving Suggestions
Pair this fruity cocktail with light summer dishes like fresh salads, grilled chicken, or seafood picks like these Old Bay crab cakes. It’s also a perfect companion for Cheese Toasties or a bowl of Smoked Chex Mix.
Strawberry-Lillet Crush
Equipment
- 1 cocktail muddler
- 1 jigger
- 1 cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 3 strawberries hulled
- 1 sprig mint
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce Lillet Blanc
- crushed ice
- strawberries and mint to garnish
Instructions
- Muddle the mint, strawberries, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. The aim is to lightly bruise the mint and strawberries to release their flavors.
- Fill a glass with crushed ice.
- Add the gin, Lillet Blanc, and 3-4 ice cubes to the shaker then shake well to blend the flavors and chill the cocktail.
- Strain the cocktail into your ice-filled glass and garnish with mint and a slice of strawberry.
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
-
- If you can’t find ripe strawberries, frozen strawberries can do in a pinch. They also act as ice cubes, chilling your drink as they thaw.
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace gin with non-alcoholic gin or tonic water.
- A sprig of thyme or basil can stand in for mint for an interesting twist.
- Swap the gin for vodka to make this Lillet Blanc cocktail if you’re not a gin fan.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
This was my first time having Lillet Blanc and I really liked it. The strawberries and mint were perfect with the drink. Iโll definitely be making this again. Itโs a Perfect summer drink.
Omgsh so good! Perfect timing as we had a huge basket of strawberries that are on the verge. I was going to make smoothies but went with cocktails instead. Great decision! These were super refreshing.
This is the best way to use up all those ripe summer berries! Absolutely light and refreshing.
Oh goodness what a delightful cocktail. I love the strawberry and mint flavors – so refreshing!
We’ve been trying different cocktails as a way to kick off our summertime weekends and try new things. This was a tasty way to use up some fresh strawberries and try Lillet Blanc for the first time. It’s like an upscale wine cooler times 10! Yum!
I love my lillet bottle, and am always happy for an excuse to use this fragrant, flowery fortified wine. The combination with the strawberry was just perfect!
Mint and strawberry together are such an amazing combination. This cocktail was a hit at my weekend party!
This was the perfect drink to end the weekend with! So smooth and refreshing.
Lillet Blanc is new to me, and it’s fascinating to learn about. Little did I know my mom has a bottle already, so we’ll make this drink together over the weekend.
I loved this drink. I used frozen strawberries instead of fresh and they were just perfect.