Last week at the Penthouse at the Mondrian SoHo, Maison Lillet launched the latest addition to their line of apéritifs. Lillet Rosé is their first new product in fifty years, falling in line with Lillet Blanc and Lillet Rouge. The Rosé is made from a blend of the same red and white Grand Cru Bordeaux varietals that are used to make the Blanc and Rouge — Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscatel — and combined with predominately citrus liqueurs, a secret blend of other fruit liqueurs, and a touch of Peruvian quinine.

For a classic Lillet apéritif experience, try it on the rocks with a grapefruit slice or twist, highlighting the citrus notes, and you can practically picture the French countryside in the summer, lush with berries, melon, stone fruit, and wildflowers. An ounce or two topped with champagne and perhaps a dash or two of orange bitters is ideal for a summer brunch. The flavors of Lillet Rosé also lend themselves to cocktails, like L’Elephant Rosé:

3 parts Lillet Rosé
.75 part peach liqueur
1.5 parts fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme

Lillet Rosé is available for $19.99.