Step into the realm of elegance with a glass of the delightfully refreshing Sunday in the Park cocktail. This cocktail, with its vibrant and distinctive blend of flavors, offers a wonderful journey of senses that you can indulge in any day of the week. I love herbal cocktails, and with subtle notes of fresh thyme, this lively Lillet Blanc cocktail really delivers!
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Cocktails are so much fun to mix and sip! Whenever I go out to eat, I always look at the cocktail menu and scan for something that looks new and interesting. That’s where I fell in love with Lillet Blanc. This French wine blend is fabulous in cocktails, and with subtle herby notes from the thyme, this Sunday in the Park classic cocktail is refreshing, flavorful, and delicious.
What you’ll love about SUNDAY IN THE PARK COCKTAIL
- A Taste Adventure: The medley of Lillet Blanc, bourbon, and lemon creates a truly remarkable taste profile, making each sip an exciting experience.
- Versatility: Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening at home, hosting a casual get-together, or throwing a lavish party, the Sunday in the Park cocktail fits right in.
- Ease of Preparation: Mixing up this cocktail doesn’t take a professional bartender. You can whip up this luxurious drink in your kitchen with a few staple ingredients.
- Customizable: Love your cocktail a bit fizzy? Just top it up with some soda water. Prefer it straight up? You’ve got it! This cocktail can be easily tailored to match your preference.
What Does Sunday in the Park Taste Like?
The Sunday in the Park blends the citrus-floral notes of Lillet Blanc with the depth and slight sweetness of bourbon. A hint of sourness from the lemon juice plays off against the simple syrup’s sweetness, while Angostura bitters introduce another layer of flavor. Garnished with thyme, the cocktail finishes with a subtle earthy aroma, and if topped with soda water, it takes on a playful effervescence. It’s a drink of harmony, balancing sweet, sour, and bitter with finesse.
Ingredients
- Lillet Blanc: A classy French aperitif wine that’s wonderfully citrusy and floral. If unavailable, you may use other aperitif wines like Cocchi Americano.
- Bourbon: Gives the cocktail its depth and warmth. Can’t find bourbon? Rye whiskey makes a decent substitute.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a refreshing tartness that balances the cocktail’s sweetness. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is the best.
- Simple Syrup: Enhances the drink with a touch of sweetness.
- Angostura Bitters: A cocktail staple that adds a complex, spicy flavor. Orange bitters can be used for a slight twist.
- Thyme Sprigs: Not just for garnish, it adds an earthy aroma.
- Soda Water (optional): Ideal for those who enjoy a fizzy cocktail. You can skip this if you prefer your cocktail straight up.
What is Lillet Blanc
Lillet Blanc, the star of the Sunday in the Park cocktail, is an enchanting French aperitif wine. Produced in the Bordeaux region, it is a blend of Bordeaux wines and macerated citrus liqueur. Its bright and zesty flavor profile lends a refreshing tone to cocktails, making it a popular choice among bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike. It’s a testament to the cultural richness and history of France, offering a delightful sip of tradition in every glass.
How to Make Sunday In The Park Cocktail
- Combine the Lillet Blanc, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, a dash or two of bitters and 2 sprigs of thyme in a cocktail shaker filled with 3-4 ice cubes.
- Shake vigorously for two minutes to ensure the flavors mingle well.
- Strain the cocktail into a tumbler and garnish with a fresh sprig of thyme.
- Top up your cocktail with soda water if you like a bit of fizz, and add an ice cube if desired to keep it chilled.
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you’re not a fan of thyme, feel free to substitute it with rosemary for a different twist.
- Experiment with different types of bitters to transform the flavor profile of your drink.
- Don’t have bourbon on hand? Use rye whiskey instead; it won’t compromise the cocktail’s detectability.
- Don’t make more than 2 servings of this cocktail at once to keep the flavors robust.
Recommended
What to Serve With A Sunday In The Park Cocktail
This Lillet Blanc cocktail pairs beautifully with light appetizers such as cheese boards, crudité platters, or bruschetta. If you’re enjoying this drink with a meal, opt for dishes with delicate flavors like grilled fish or chicken salad. These air fryer BBQ chicken thighs would also be delish with this cocktail. The key to pairing food with cocktails is to balance the flavors without overshadowing the cocktail.
Sunday in the Park Cocktail
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces Lillet Blanc
- 1.5 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- soda water optional
Instructions
- Combine the Lillet Blanc, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, a dash or two of bitters and 2 sprigs of thyme in a cocktail shaker filled with 3-4 ice cubes.
- Shake vigorously for two minutes to ensure the flavors mingle well.
- Strain the cocktail into a tumbler and garnish with a fresh sprig of thyme.
- Top up your cocktail with soda water if you like a bit of fizz, and add an ice cube if desired to keep it chilled.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
-
- If you’re not a fan of thyme, feel free to substitute it with rosemary for a different twist.
- Experiment with different types of bitters to transform the flavor profile of your drink.
- Don’t have bourbon on hand? Use rye whiskey instead; it won’t compromise the cocktail’s detectability.
- Don’t make more than 2 servings of this cocktail at once to keep the flavors robust.
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.
I’m a fizzy cocktail drinker, so your tip about adding soda water is written for me! Thanks for that easy modification suggestion.
Thanks for a great recipe, and for the suggestion do use rosemary because I like thyme, but I prefer rosemary in my cocktails. I’ll definitely be making this one again.
I love anything classy and what embodies that more than something originating in Bordeaux? The Lillet blanc is such a lovely base for a cocktail and this Sunday in the Park is a great example! Perfectly balanced and easy to drink – almost too easy! 😉
This cocktail was my love language! Jenn, I’ve now made a few of your cocktails, and each time I feel like we’re kindred spirits when it comes to booze. Bourbon, Lillet and fresh herbs – nothing could be better than this herbaceous combo!
I have been interested in Lillet Blanc for a while now, and this cocktail made me take the leap. Boy am I glad I did. I loved all the flavors, I used rosemary from my garden and I did top with soda water for a little fizz. 🙂
This cocktail is so refreshing. I loved the earthy tone from the added thyme.
This cocktail was so good. I had mine with soda and hubby enjoyed it on the rocks. Next time, we will swap and I’ll make it with rosemary. Thanks for sharing.
My parents both love bourbon drinks so I made this during their recent visit, and they loved it. Such a fun change of pace from old fashioneds.
We love bourbon based cocktails and this is delicious. The Lillet makes this drink really special. I substituted rosemary for thyme because it’s what I had. It was superb!
Loved this cocktail! It was light, fresh, and was perfect for a lazy Sunday.
AHA! Another Friday Fri-yay idea for me to make!
A friend gifted me a bottle of Lillet Blanc which is quite delicious on it’s own but I wanted to experiment with using it in a cocktail. A little online perusing brought me to this recipe. I made it on Sunday, of course. And even though we sipped it from our back patio instead of in a park, I can’t think of a cocktail that’s more aptly named. It is, without a doubt the perfect cocktail for a relaxed Sunday, in the park or absolutely anywhere else. Delicious!
Sounds pretty nearly perfect! ~Jenn